Frequently Asked Questions
Planning to attend the Mid-Appalachian Quilters Annual Educational Retreat? We've answered some of our most frequently asked questions below to help you prepare for an enjoyable and inspiring weekend.
About the Retreat
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The 2026 Mid-Appalachian Quilters Retreat will be held June 5–7, 2026, with attendees able to arrive on Thursday, June 4 after 3:00 PM.
[UPDATE: Replace with new retreat dates when supplied.]
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The MAQ Retreat is held on the campus of Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
LINK: Gettysburg College Campus Map
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MAQ offers a wide variety of classes so that quilters can explore new techniques, develop their skills and find something that suits their interests.
Past classes have included foundation paper piecing, long-arm quilting, fabric dyeing, appliqué, hand sewing and quilting, shoe making, fabric painting, collage, English paper piecing and much more.
This is an educational retreat, and we encourage attendees to take the opportunity to try a new technique or discover a new way of doing something.
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Information about purchasing the annual MAQ Retreat T-shirt will be made available closer to the event.
Keep an eye on our newsletter and social media for ordering information.
[UPDATE: The old site links specifically to 2026 T-shirts, so add the new link when supplied.]
Registration & Cancellations
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Registration for the 2026 retreat opens Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
We recommend registering early, as many classes fill to capacity.
[UPDATE: Replace with new registration date.]
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Registration for the 2026 retreat closes May 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM.
[UPDATE: Replace with new closing date.]
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Membership dues are non-refundable. Everyone who pays membership dues will receive a membership card.
The MAQ Board makes commitments to Gettysburg College and our instructors in advance of the retreat, so a tiered refund policy applies.
For the 2026 retreat:
March 2–April 2: Class fees, meals and housing will be refunded.
April 3–May 3: Meals and housing will be refunded.
After May 3: No refunds will be processed unless a class is cancelled by MAQ.
To request a cancellation, please email maqexecboard@gmail.com.
[UPDATE: These dates are specific to the 2026 retreat.]
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Yes. Registration may be transferred to another participant; however, changes to class choices and accommodation are not permitted.
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Each class requires an agreed minimum number of registered students. If a class does not receive enough registrations, the instructor and registered students will be notified that the class has been cancelled.
A member of the MAQ Board will then contact affected students and attempt to find a suitable alternative class.
Housing & Accommodations
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Please remember that this is college accommodation. Towels and bed linens are not provided, and all beds on campus are Twin XL.
The beds and pillows provided offer fairly basic comfort, so you may wish to bring a mattress topper, your own pillow and, of course, a favourite quilt to make your stay more comfortable.
Attendees staying on campus will be housed in dorm-style accommodation. Some people bring only the essentials, while others bring considerably more — it's entirely up to you.
Remember to check the requirements for your individual classes too. Some classes provide machines, patterns or kits, while others require you to bring your own supplies.
A small wheeled suitcase or similar bag can make transporting supplies between your accommodation and classes much easier.
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Our Porters are teenagers from a local church who help attendees carry luggage and supplies to and from the dorms and classrooms.
In return for their help, MAQ makes a donation towards their fundraising activities, such as mission trips.
A complete schedule showing when the Porters are available will be included in your registration packet. Tipping is not required, although it is always appreciated.
Meals
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Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available in the campus dining hall and are served cafeteria-style.
There is not a coffee shop on campus that is open before or after dining hall hours, so if you'd like coffee, tea or snacks outside of meal times, please come prepared.
Dorm rooms have access to a refrigerator and microwave.
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated by the dining staff. Please let the MAQ Board know about any dietary requirements during registration so arrangements can be made in advance.
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College dining halls have adopted a no-tray policy. If you feel that you need a tray to comfortably navigate the dining hall, we recommend bringing a small tray with you.
A complete schedule showing when the Porters are available will be included in your registration packet. Tipping is not required, although it is always appreciated.
Parking & Transportation
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There are a limited number of accessible parking spaces available in each parking lot.
You must display a valid disability placard when using an accessible parking space, as well as your college parking pass.
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In most cases, yes.
You'll receive a parking pass allowing you to park in student parking areas around the college campus.
There is also on-street parking in and around the college. If you choose to park on the street, you are responsible for any applicable parking charges. On-street parking is controlled by Gettysburg Borough rather than Gettysburg College, and parking restrictions are regularly enforced.
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Parking lots are located throughout the campus, but a parking space immediately beside your classroom or dorm cannot be guaranteed.
Some dorms have parking nearby, although there aren't enough spaces for every attendee to park directly outside their room.
If you're sharing accommodation with someone you didn't travel with, we recommend keeping one vehicle in one of the larger parking lots where possible.
If you plan to unload your vehicle and then walk for most of the weekend, please consider moving your car to one of the larger nearby lots. This helps keep closer spaces available for attendees who need to drive around campus.
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When you check in, you'll receive a campus map showing parking areas and building locations.
You can then choose the parking area that makes the most sense based on the location of your classes.
PPreparing for the Retreat
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Once you've registered, your information will be provided to your instructor or instructors.
They may contact you before the retreat with supply lists, class instructions or information about any machines, patterns or kits you'll need.
Please make sure you prepare and pack your required supplies before arriving.
MAQ attendees can also participate in our Lottery Block raffle, so don't forget to prepare your Lottery Blocks if you'd like to take part.
LINK: Lottery Blocks
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Yes. Please remember that Gettysburg College is a college campus, and there can be a considerable amount of walking between dorms, classrooms and the dining hall.
We recommend preparing for the additional walking before the retreat.
If you're unable to comfortably walk longer distances, you may wish to bring or rent a mobility device. Gettysburg College and MAQ do not provide mobility-device rentals, although some local rental companies may be able to arrange delivery and collection.
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MAQ encourages attendees to make or bring a small neck wallet to hold their badge and room key.
A free pattern has previously been recommended for attendees who would like to make their own. Alternatively, neck wallets are readily available to purchase from many stores.
[UPDATE/LINK: The existing site links to the free ByAnnie pattern. This can be retained if MAQ still wants to recommend it.]
Arriving at the Retreat
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When you arrive at Gettysburg College, make your way to the College Union Building (CUB) ballroom entrance on West Lincoln Avenue.
MAQ reserves several parking spaces directly in front of the ballroom doors for arriving attendees. Park temporarily in one of these spaces and come inside to check in.
You'll receive your registration packet, parking pass and, if you're staying in campus accommodation, your room key.
Once you've checked in, please move your vehicle to student parking so the arrival spaces remain available for other attendees.
You can then unload your belongings and take them to your room. If there's a problem with your accommodation, please let the MAQ team know as soon as possible and we'll work with the college to help resolve it.
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Most instructors will be in their classrooms on registration day.
You're welcome to visit your Friday classroom and leave appropriate supplies there, such as your sewing machine, fabrics and notions.
Supplies for Saturday or Sunday can be taken to your dorm room or left securely in your vehicle until needed.
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Once you've settled into your room and looked through your registration packet, you can head to the dining center for dinner.
Meal times will be included in your registration packet and are strictly observed by the facility. If you requested dietary adjustments when registering, please ask about these when scanning your dining card.
After dinner, attendees are invited to the CUB ballroom for the evening programme.
There will typically be vendors selling merchandise, a free table where attendees can bring items to give away, along with information, show-and-tells, speakers and door prizes.
Attendance at the evening programme isn't mandatory. You're also welcome to use the evening to relax, run errands or explore the area.
Still Have Questions?
Can't find the answer you're looking for? We're happy to help.
For general enquiries, please contact midappalachianquilters@gmail.com.
For payment-related questions, please contact maqtreasurer@gmail.com.