Spring is finally here, and this time of the year finds many enjoying the flowers in the pastures and trees blooming alongside the roads as Mother Nature makes her grand appearance. A leisurely drive throughout the countryside of Halifax County is sure to warm everyone’s hearts, but a closer look will reveal something else. More barn quilts are being put up throughout Halifax County.

Halifax County now has more than 100 Barn Quilt pieces up, with both the Town of Halifax and Town of South Boston prominently displaying pieces on their main streets. It is believed that Halifax County leads the state in the number of barn quilt pieces displayed in one Virginia county.

Some not familiar with a barn quilt may ask what is this piece of art? It is a large piece of wood that is painted to look like a quilt block. Although the name implies that an entire quilt is painted onto the wood, it generally is only a single quilt block. The size of the squares varies. The pieces are hung on the exterior of a barn, house, garage, churches, other buildings, or can be freestanding.

The barn quilts scattered throughout Halifax County have become so popular with visitors that the organizing group celebrated its annual Barn Quilt Trail Day on April 24. But the fun doesn’t end there! This year’s event will look a little different and due to COVID-19 mandates, will not have special stops along the way, but there will be a contest for participants visiting at least 10 pieces along the trail.

This year we are celebrating with a contest. Visit and take a picture of at least 10 pieces on the trail, then upload the results to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #HalifaxBarnQuiltTrail. The contest runs from April 24 – May 24. Prizes will be awarded to three lucky winners being announced May 25.

Trail maps will be available at the South Boston/Halifax County Visitor Center, the Halifax Market Place, and online at: https://bit.ly/3sSmkx1

Be sure to like/follow our social media pages to see the announcement of contest winners. Good luck and happy exploring!

Contest Rules:

• Visit 10 of the local barn quilts and take pictures of them
• Upload your pictures to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #HalifaxBarnQuiltTrail
• Contest runs from Saturday, April 24 through Monday, May 24.
• Winners will be announced on Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday, May 25.