Almonte’s Fibrefest is back on September 12 and 13

Press Release – Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

Come on out to the scenic town of Almonte on September 12 and 13 to celebrate the wonderful world of fibre arts at the 31st Fibrefest – the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum’s annual fundraiser! 

Taking place at two locations, the John Levi Community Centre and the Museum, admission to Fibrefest is $5 per day and grants access to both sites. With 80+ vendors from across the province and beyond, there’s no better place to stock up on amazing supplies for your textile hobby and shop for finished clothing, accessories, and art! Skilled local artisans will demonstrate spinning, knitting, and more. Support local makers – and your local textile museum!

This year, there’s a wide variety of workshops to experience! Don’t miss the opportunity to learn felting, Tatreez, basketry, Tunisian crochet, and more with the guidance of talented teachers. Workshops will be running from September 9 to 17 at both the Community Centre and Museum. Advance registration is required, and some workshops may require that you bring your own supplies, so make sure to check out www.mvtm.ca/whats-on/fibrefest/ and sign up early.

“We’re incredibly excited to be celebrating our 31st Fibrefest. It’s a unique celebration of Almonte’s textile history and continued commitment to the fibre arts. We’re grateful to the local community, volunteers, and supporters that have empowered us to keep this fantastic fundraiser going for over three decades and grow in ways we never could have imagined,” said Michael Rikley-Lancaster, Executive Director/Curator, Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.

Alongside Fibrefest, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum will be displaying two temporary exhibitions – “Unfinished Journey: Memory, Identity, & Family” by Anne Kelly, and “Queer Newfoundland Hockey League” by Lucas Morneau. Kelly’s work is rooted in the themes of memory and identity, drawing deeply from her personal narrative. By weaving together recollections from her travels and her experiences of living in both Canada and the UK, Kelly constructs a unique visual language using vintage and reclaimed textiles. Morneau’ exhibition centres a fictional hockey league made of 14 teams, all of which use derogatory terms for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as team names. Morneau uses these terms to reclaim the words often used against queer individuals both on and off the ice, using crochet and rug-hooked jerseys and doily goalie masks combat heteronormative stereotypes. 

This year’s Fibrefest will be full of high-quality artistry and exciting learning opportunities! Beat the lines and get your tickets online at mvtm.ticketsplease.ca/fibrefest/.

About Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum is committed to collecting, preserving, and telling the stories of the local mill workers and labour history, while offering an open, inclusive space for the local community and visitors from across the globe. 

If you wish to enquire about museum and its operations, please visit the website at: https://mvtm.ca/whats-on/fibrefest/