Today was catch up on email day. An announcement in one of the newsletters for a quilt show in Charleston, SC next March caught my eye. Misty Doan will be teaching at this event (Cobblestone 2026 Celebration of Quilts, Textiles & Fiber Arts Show), so this one is definitely on my radar. It’s also within driving distance of Atlanta. On the potential 2026 quilt show/retreat list it goes as I’m looking for events closer to home. I enjoyed my spring retreat in Boise with the JK Quilts girls, but the travel costs associated with attending the retreat were really expensive this year.
How much will it potentially cost to attend the Charleston show for 3 days and 2 nights? I’m going to base my travel budget on what I spent at similar events in TN and NC. Charleston is a 5 hour drive from Atlanta. Gas: $75.00 This event has classes and lectures along with the show, so I’ll allow for two nights of hotel based on current rates at hotels near the venue. Accommodations: $300.00 Food: $100.00 Quilt show attendance, classes, lectures and souvenir shopping (a/k/a hitting the vendor booths): $150.00. My cost: $625.00 max for a 3 day/2 night quilting adventure. Costs can easily be lowered by not taking classes, bringing a friend and/or using credit card reward points to put towards gas, meals and hotel. Mind you, $625.00 is totally in line with fees for a lot of quilt retreats lasting 3-5 days.
Prefer an escorted tour?
Some of the quilt tour companies offer escorted tours of the low country focusing on Georgia and South Carolina. Yep, there’s already a tour advertised to take you to the Charleston show and shop hopping around the Palmetto state. The advertised cost is $1595 double occupancy or $1895 single occupancy. There’s a discount if you book by a certain date. Of course, I downloaded the trip brochure and checked out the quilt shops listed on the itinerary. This is a good way to discover quilt shops you might want to visit on your travels. I added one shop to my list to visit the next time I’m in upstate South Carolina.
Someone asked if I’m planning to attend QuiltCon 2026. No, as I attended the event in Raleigh in 2024
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