The 32nd annual Barnswallows Quilt Show slated for the first weekend in May has been cancelled. However, the organizing committee has decided to do something new and fun in its place.

A list of the areas and streets on which quilts will be displayed will be posted on the Barnswallows website.Taking a page out of the recently celebrated International Quilting day in March, one of the show's co-chairs, Sue Nelson says they're presenting, 'Quilts by the Yard.'

Nelson says they've put out a call to their members throughout the Pembina Valley and anybody else to hang up quilts in their yards, either on fences, balconies, or clotheslines so that they're visible from the road. "They can string lines in their front yards and string quilts there," said Nelson. "We thought it would great if people could come and see these nice bright, colourful, cheerful things in the yards of people."

Nelson says the concept allows people to enjoy checking out the quilts from a safe distance instead of being crowded into a hall. "This way people could walk by, they could bike, they could drive around town and see the nice things we have to show."

Each year roughly 1,000 quilters from across Southern Manitoba stream through the Access Event Centre in Morden to take in the annual Barnswallows Quilt Show. Nelson says it was definitely disappointing to cancel it which is why they wanted to do something in its place. She says the ultimate goal of 'Quilts by the Yard is to lift peoples' spirits during this time.

Quilts by the Yard will happen, Saturday, May 2nd from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It will only be cancelled in the event of rain.

Nelson notes the committee has already booked the Access Event Centre for next year in anticipation of the 2021 edition of the Barnswallows Quilt Show.