The Sew Happy Stitchers, along with Horicon Bank, will again sponsor this year's Dickens of a Quilt Show. The eighteenth annual show will be held in Horicon Bank at 400 Watson Street on Friday, November 30, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, December 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, December 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vote for your favorites on Friday and Saturday. Come back on Sunday to see who won!

The special feature of this year's show is Patriotic Quilts. The Dickens Challenge, which has become an annual event, has the theme of "Childhood Memories." Quilters who choose to participate in the Challenge make an item from specific fabrics in a purchased kit. Kits for the 2013 Dickens Challenge will also be for sale at the show.

A new feature this year will be the presentation of Quilts of Valor quilts to honor veterans of WWII. The presentation ceremony will take place at the show on Saturday afternoon at 1:30.

Other categories include bed quilts, baby/lap quilts, wall hangings, and clothing and accessories. The popular children's category will again encourage children 15 years and younger to enter items made as individuals or through school or club involvement. The show opens on Friday, with live musical performances scheduled throughout the weekend. Admission to the show is free but donations are appreciated.

The show is part of Ripon's Dickens of a Christmas celebration, November 30 - December 2, which is sponsored by the Ripon Chamber of Commerce. "Dickens” activities include the Tour of Homes, this year featuring beautiful and historic Ripon churches; Living Windows, on Friday evening only in the downtown area where community groups will be acting out scenes depicting life in the 1800s in celebration of the 200^th birthday of Charles Dickens; Breakfast with Santa; the Enchanted Forest; a display of over fifty Christmas crèches; and many other festive activities throughout the weekend in historic Ripon.