POCATELLO — The Portneuf Valley Quilters' Guild is holding a Quilt Fest the first week of October that will promote the art of quilting for a new generation.

Debi McHugh, publicity chairman for the guild, said the Quilt Fest is held every two years. Their mission is to help the new generation become interested in quilting and to show the talent in the community.

"Our mission is to expose people to the art and help them be creative," she said. "We do the show to showcase the talents of everyone in the community."

The Quilt Fest will be held at the Mountain View Event Center, located at 1567 Way to Grace Ave. It will go from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Admission is $5 each day.

The event features quilts made by people all throughout East Idaho. There are usually around 150 quilts entered every year the Quilt Fest is held. In addition to the show, the event is also a way for people to learn more about the Quilters' Guild.

"The Quilters' Guild donates 160 quilts a year to communities that have families in need," McHugh said. "The quilt show is a way to expose more people to the things that we do in the guild."

At the Quilt Fest there will be a boutique selling handmade items, vendors, an auction and a raffle. The money raised will help support the guild and all the things that they do.

"(People) will have opportunities to visit vendors," McHugh said. "It's a fun day out."

The community has been supportive of the Quilt Fest during the years it has been held. McHugh said they usually have around 400 people attending during the days it's held.

"I enjoy the camaraderie where people of similar interest can come," she said. "People who don't quilt can come and we can share. It's a nice social experience."

There will also be demonstrations at the Quilt Fest where people will be able to see how quilts are made. These demonstrations will be held throughout the two days and are free for anyone who comes to the event.

"We have free demonstrations every half hour," McHugh said. 

On Friday, Oct. 4, there will be ten total demonstrations. The first one will start at 11 a.m. and will be on slotted trim rulers by Machelle Preston of Cherry Tree Cottage Quilts. The last one will start at 3:30 p.m. and will be a paper piercing demonstration by Judy Anderson of the Quilters' Guild.

Other Friday demonstrations will include self bordering, needle health and life, sewing curves without pins and self bordering on point quilts.

The first of the Saturday, Oct. 5 demonstrations will start at 11 a.m. It will be a tie-making demonstration by J'neane Smith of Textile Treasures by J'neane. The last one will start at 2:30 p.m. that will feature Janes Felsted of Sew Fun Quilting demonstrating a clover fabric tube maker.