In 1999, an ingenious idea sparked when Betty Dahlin and Valerie Begeman approached Lou Schuelke and Sherryl Alexander with the vision of an outdoor quilt show in Hill City, complementing their existing Great Black Hills Quilt Escape Retreat. This collective enthusiasm birthed the Heart of the Hills Quilters, with their inaugural quilt show unfurled in the year 2000. Under the banner of the Great Black Hills Outdoor Quilt Show and Classes, the event thrived until 2002.

The years 2003 and 2004 marked a golden period when the show was distinguished as a featured state event by the South Dakota Board of Tourism, even earning a spot in the Governor’s Top Ten Events. This accolade meant free advertising, a delightful boon for the organizers. Quilts adorned the fronts of local businesses or were displayed on specially constructed teepee poles, creating a tapestry of color and creativity across Hill City. By 2003, with the Great Black Hills Quilt Escape moving their retreat to Lead, the show was rebranded as the Hill City Outdoor Quilt Show and Sale.The Hill City Chamber of Commerce joined forces with the Heart of the Hills Quilters, ensuring the event’s continuation and growth. Educational classes also became part of the annual tradition for several more years.

The year 2004 brought further glory when the show was celebrated as one of ABA’s Top 100 Events in North America, enhancing its prestige and visibility. Adapting to the challenges of weather, in 2010 the event shifted partially indoors to the Hill City School, evolving into a two-day affair where most quilts were shielded from the whims of wind, though some still fluttered outside, adding charm to the event.

In recent years, the Hill City Arts Council and Chamber have taken the reins, with the quilt guild’s assistance, until this year when the guild reassumed full organizational duties. The show expanded its scope in 2019 to embrace fiber arts, transforming into the Hill City Quilt and Fiber Arts Show, a vibrant celebration that continues to attract artists and enthusiasts alike, showcasing a blend of traditional quilting and contemporary fiber arts.