Submitted by Barb Gebuhr, Fundy Tourism Administrator
Exciting news: ACTA-Fundy Tourism has agreed to continue the promotion of the Barn Quilt Trail, with the inclusion in the Locator Map. Another workshop will be held in the community hall at the Albert County Museum, on November 7, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
The Fundy Albert Barn Quilt Trail project has been a long time coming. About ten years ago, when the original board of Chipoudy Communities Revitalization Committee was exploring ways to encourage economic development in the area, they worked with consultant, Wendy Keats. She introduced the concept of a Barn Quilt Trail. At the time, Kings County was developing a trail that would connect with the Canadian Barn Quilt Trail, and Wendy felt this region would be a natural fit to join up with that network.
CCRC received enthusiastic support and valuable guidance from both the folks in Kings County and organizers in Ontario. Later, when CCRC began raising funds through the very successful Chase the Ace events, a portion of that funding was set aside for this project, and transferred to the Albert County Historic Society as a likely organization to partner with the project. There were high hopes that a Barn Quilt Trail could become another way to attract visitors to our region while also celebrating the rich traditions of quilting and farming that are such an important part of our heritage.
Exciting news: ACTA-Fundy Tourism has agreed to continue the promotion of the Barn Quilt Trail, with the inclusion in the Locator Map. Another workshop will be held in the community hall at the Albert County Museum, on November 7, 2026. If you are interested in participating, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
The Fundy Albert Barn Quilt Trail project has been a long time coming. About ten years ago, when the original board of Chipoudy Communities Revitalization Committee was exploring ways to encourage economic development in the area, they worked with consultant, Wendy Keats. She introduced the concept of a Barn Quilt Trail. At the time, Kings County was developing a trail that would connect with the Canadian Barn Quilt Trail, and Wendy felt this region would be a natural fit to join up with that network.
CCRC received enthusiastic support and valuable guidance from both the folks in Kings County and organizers in Ontario. Later, when CCRC began raising funds through the very successful Chase the Ace events, a portion of that funding was set aside for this project, and transferred to the Albert County Historic Society as a likely organization to partner with the project. There were high hopes that a Barn Quilt Trail could become another way to attract visitors to our region while also celebrating the rich traditions of quilting and farming that are such an important part of our heritage.
Although a committee was formed, the timing was not perfect then. But this past year, knowing that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Quilt Show and Sale, all realized the time was now.
Albert County Tourism Association / Fundy Tourism partnered with the museum to help bring this project together. Combined with the earlier donation from CCRC, this truly became a cooperative effort among three of the most significant community organizations in Fundy Albert.
Through Marjorie Henwood’s connections, Lorette Cole of Spruce It Up Quilts in Port Elgin agreed to teach a Barn Quilt class in the community hall in Oct. 2025.
Twenty-one participants came together to design and paint their own barn quilts. Many were business owners connected with ACTA, while others were local residents who simply thought it would be a fun and creative way to help attract new visitors to our area.
The workshop was a tremendous success. A wide variety of beautiful quilt designs were created, and many were completed that very day.
ACTA contributed a panel in the popular Locator Map, published each summer, to help guide visitors along the trail from one end to the other. It is wonderful to see how the trail winds throughout the ACTA region — from above Hillsborough, through Fundy National Park, and along our scenic side roads. We hope the trail will continue to grow as more people choose to create a quilt and join in the fun. It may be difficult to measure the increase in tourism statistically, but it is hoped that visitors will share their experiences in our restaurants, gift shops, and accommodations — and that those positive comments will make their way back to the partners.
In Hampton, the Kings County Trail is currently being revitalized with support from the town’s Economic Development Officer, who has been in conversation with us as well. We are already linking our trails through tourism brochures and hope to expand promotion even further during the coming season.
There are so many positive aspects to this project: the beauty of the designs, the creativity inspired in people who may not have considered themselves artists, and the remarkable cooperation among community organizations dedicated to making our county an even better place to live, work, and play.
Albert County Tourism Association / Fundy Tourism partnered with the museum to help bring this project together. Combined with the earlier donation from CCRC, this truly became a cooperative effort among three of the most significant community organizations in Fundy Albert.
Through Marjorie Henwood’s connections, Lorette Cole of Spruce It Up Quilts in Port Elgin agreed to teach a Barn Quilt class in the community hall in Oct. 2025.
Twenty-one participants came together to design and paint their own barn quilts. Many were business owners connected with ACTA, while others were local residents who simply thought it would be a fun and creative way to help attract new visitors to our area.
The workshop was a tremendous success. A wide variety of beautiful quilt designs were created, and many were completed that very day.
ACTA contributed a panel in the popular Locator Map, published each summer, to help guide visitors along the trail from one end to the other. It is wonderful to see how the trail winds throughout the ACTA region — from above Hillsborough, through Fundy National Park, and along our scenic side roads. We hope the trail will continue to grow as more people choose to create a quilt and join in the fun. It may be difficult to measure the increase in tourism statistically, but it is hoped that visitors will share their experiences in our restaurants, gift shops, and accommodations — and that those positive comments will make their way back to the partners.
In Hampton, the Kings County Trail is currently being revitalized with support from the town’s Economic Development Officer, who has been in conversation with us as well. We are already linking our trails through tourism brochures and hope to expand promotion even further during the coming season.
There are so many positive aspects to this project: the beauty of the designs, the creativity inspired in people who may not have considered themselves artists, and the remarkable cooperation among community organizations dedicated to making our county an even better place to live, work, and play.
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