Fall 2026 Retreat
October 16-18, 2026
Village Quilters will be hosting a Quilt Retreat for members at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mettawa. We begin at 8:00 a.m. on Friday and wrap it up on Sunday afternoon. At the retreat, each quilter works on their own projects.
Consider joining us!If you haven’t attended a retreat, please consider joining the fun.
The retreat is now sold out.
See below to add your name to the waitlist.
About the Retreat
Where
Hilton Garden Inn Lake Forest Mettawa
26225 North Riverwoods Boulevard, Lake Forest, Illinois
When
October 16-18, 2026
Friday 8:00 a.m. until Sunday afternoon
Registration
Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on September 1, 2026. Pay your registration fee using the purchase button above. To ensure fairness for these popular retreats, only one registration may be purchased at a time.
Costs
$64.00. This fee covers renting the ballroom for three days. No partial payments will be accepted for registration. No refunds will be given.
What to bring
Bring along the projects that you want to work on. There are thirty-three spots available. Each quilter has a table with room for a machine, a small cutting board, supplies, and fabric. There is electricity at each table. The room is filled with abundant natural light during the day.
There will be cutting tables set up with large cutting mats. The hotel supplies several irons and ironing boards.
Because the ballroom is large, it is difficult to adjust the temperature to suit everyone’s preference. Bring along a sweater, sweatshirt and/or jacket to keep warm.
Accommodations
Some participants wish to drive home and sleep in their own beds; others like to stay at the hotel. The hotel offers reduced rates to retreat participants.
If you choose to stay at the hotel, please read this:
This is important information about reserving a room. We must send the list of requested rooms to the hotel three weeks before the retreat. This means that if you want to request a room, you should do so as soon as you know your plans. The deadline for room requests is September 12.
Reserving the room: The only way to ensure that you have reserved a room is to email your request to Sharon Pierluissi. She will not see the note that you put on the registration form. When she receives a room request, she puts the email in a folder so that it will not be lost. She will send you an email stating that she has received your request. If you don’t receive a confirmation, email her again or contact her in a different way!
The cost of the hotel room is $144 per night.
If you request a room, please indicate if you want a single king or a double queen. Please indicate which nights you request: Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday. Also, if you are sharing the room, please list your roommate’s name and any specific room requests.
What if the retreat is sold out?
If the website indicates that the retreat is full, immediately email Marti Austin with the request to be put on the wait list. The list will be made according to the order in which requests are received. Your email provides the date and time of your request.
The waitlist is first come, first served. In the past, members on the waitlist have been able to join the fun when others have had to cancel.
What if I registered but can no longer attend?
If you find that you can not attend the retreat, call Marti Austin to see if someone on the waitlist can purchase your spot. Remember, refunds will not be given.
How do I get all my stuff in and out of the hotel?
Please use the front entrance. The retreat is held in sections of the ballroom (usually those furthest from the main entrance since they have the best natural light).
If you cannot walk long distances, there is an exterior door at the south end of the ballroom hallway, with parking spots nearby. This door is locked from the outside, so you should arrange for someone to open it when you arrive.
Do not use the doors that lead directly into the ballroom. We have found that the room temperature remains more consistent when this door remains closed. Additionally, it means the quilters who sit near the door are not constantly interrupted by having to let people in.