For the past 25 years Panguitch has hosted the Quilt Walk Festival. In 1996 when Panguitch’s largest employer (Kaibab Saw Mill) closed their business due to lack of timber to process, residents of Panguitch were nervous. We thought there was no way to recover from this blow.
Quilt Walk Festival
Many discussions were held to try to find a solution to this dilemma. The first idea that was tried was to boost our tourist industry with a Quilt Walk Festival. Claudia Crump, having been to several quilt shows and festivals, had the idea that this could help Panguitch by bringing women to take classes who love quilting. From 54 ladies who came that first year, to the 400 who registered this year, the Quilt Walk Festival has certainly had an impact on Panguitch’s economy.
This year’s celebration was the biggest and best event ever held. There was literally no more room to add another class or another teacher. The Quilt Show was spectacular and dozens of women brought their most outstanding work to be displayed.
The Quilt Walk Dinner Theater sold out completely the first two nights and the show was refreshing and fun. We had a delightful cast and a delicious dinner.
Chocolate Fest
Of course the Chocolate Fest was a giant hit as chocolate always is and the Home Tours were a rousing success.
Despite sore feet and tired backs the organizers are saying, “well next year we will have to —”
Balloon Festival
Two weeks after the Quilt Walk, Panguitch hosted the Balloon Festival. The Balloon Festival was started a few years after Quilt Walk with much the same purpose in mind, “To bring more people to Panguitch to support our businesses.” The Balloon Festival is held the 4th weekend of June and usually sports about 35 hot air balloons. Each year this festival begins on a Friday and ends on Sunday.
This year because of weather conditions, the balloons were not able to fly on Friday. Conditions have to be just right for balloons to go up as it is easy to damage a hot air balloon and expensive to repair one.
Saturday’s launch made up for the missing one on Friday as it was spectacular and loved by all who witnessed it.
The Glow
Best of all of course was The Glow. On Saturday night the balloons line Main and Center Streets for a gorgeous display of beauty, glowing while the sun sets. The darker it gets the brighter the glow is and everyone fills the streets going up and down to see all of the balloons. Music and entertainment fill the air as bands play on different corners. Four bands played this year: Center and Main, Current Creek, Most Wanted, and the John Weaver Band. This year’s entertainment was completed by Kamree Albrecht’s dancing group which performed on the corner of Main and Center.
Another highlight of the festival this year was a fundraiser held for Beckett Duffin. He is a grandson of Jimmy and Kathleen Cooper and the son of Jace and Jamie Cooper Duffin. He was born with a disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa, also known as the Butterfly Disease or EB. It is very rare and is expensive to treat. His family has had to move to Colorado for medical care as no one hospital in the State of Utah could treat him. The fundraiser went well and Panguitch supported their own in need, as usual.
– The Byway
Feature image caption: Air balloons lift off, glowing in the morning light just as the sun is rising. This is part of one of many summer festivals in Panguitch that help keep the town’s economy running. Courtesy Ari Hurdsman.