SMGS Gourd Festival Updates

We are so excited about the June 27-29 2025 SMGS Gourd Festival! Scroll down to read more about vendors, workshops, the auction, and more. The Public hours are Saturday and Sunday. Friday is for vendor and auction setup as well as drop-off and judging for the Gourd Competition.

Meanwhile, here are some links to help you make reservations and decisions about activities.

Important Links:

• Gourd Competition - Enter your gourds to win in over 8 categories. This year Woodcarvers can compete!
• Saturday Dinner - Join us for a fun awards dinner and

the Creepy Crawly Contest - Fun contest during dinner!

• Auction/Raffle - We welcome donations to help raise money!!
• Lebanon Housing - Make your reservations discounted hotel rates!
• Workshop Registration - We have 30+ fabulous ways to learn!
• Vendors - It's not too late to reserve a booth to display your wares!
• SMGS Facebook Page - Keep up with updates!
• Dates and Directions - See you there!

How to Be a Vendor

Vendors are still welcome to submit applications. Please do so through the website. Please email a picture of what you sell and a previous picture of a booth you have sold at previously. Submit to smgsvendor_workshop@yahoo.com

Workshop Updates



Get your friends, family and join us for a great fun filled weekend. We have great teachers with awesome projects. All posted classes have openings. Please don't forget to get registrations submitted on the website. Online registration will close Wed. June 19, 2024. If teachers have space and supplies you may still register at the festival. Preregistration is preferred to make it easier for the teachers to plan supplies while traveling.

New Member Basket Donations

Looking for Donations to another New Member Basket.  We've had a couple of offers of items already. Below is a list of what was in last year's basket. If you have anything that you might have, you can bring to me on Friday of the Festival & I will put together.  

We're not taking away from the Silent Auction, we just want some items that could encourage and get a new person hooked on Gourding.  

2024 Basket: New Membership Basket Contents

1 Large Gourd 3 Med. Gourds 3 Misc. Gourds 4 Small Banana Gourds 6 Spinners Gourds 4 Egg Gourds Gourds and Fiber Book by Jim Widess Filtration Mask RZ 2 Tubes of Quikwood 1 5pk Neon Easy Marble Paint 1 3pk Easy Marble Paint 1 50 pk. Lg. Gloves 1 Stainless Steel Scrubber 1 Package Natural Sponges 1 Scraper 1 Sanding Block

Auction News

The silent auction was a success at the festival last year, so the board has decided to give it a go again in 2025 year. Additional signage will be up to try to eliminate some of the confusion last year on when items were available to bid on them.

Last year many individuals were able to bring donated items on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. This was very helpful, and preferred for 2025, to getting the items placed for the auctions. If you are not able to bring items at those times, we understand. Deliver them at any time through Saturday. Donations can also be made between now and the festival. We will work with those who will not be coming to the festival for alternate pickup or delivery arrangements.

Items will be designated to be bid on in four different time slots. The auction days and times tentatively will be: Friday, 12:00 – 4:00, Saturday, 9:00 – 12:00; Saturday 1:30 – 4:30 and Sunday, 9:00 – 2:00. These are tentative times and will be firmed up closer to the festival. Having four separate auctions allows for a new start on each auction. Items up for bid will again have a buy it now option.

Volunteers will be needed at the festival for checking items in, registering bidders and closing the auction.

If anyone is interested in becoming the auction chair for 2026 please let Nancy Amburgey know. You could be shadowing the chair in 2025 to learn the ins and outs for 2026.

Time to Renew Membership

Membership Benefits

•      Quarterly issues of our newsletter

•      Gourd Art Festival information

•      Discounted Festival competition entry fees

•      Updates of news and events throughout the year

•      Voting privileges at two yearly all member meetings

•      Information on sources for gourds and seeds, educational materials, tools, and supplies

Your Membership helps support SMGS in sharing information about Gourd Art and our annual Festival!

 Two Ways to Pay! Online or by mail.

1.   Dues may be paid online by going to www.ShowMeGourdSociety.org   

   Click on “About Us” then select “SMGS Membership”

  Click on “Add to Cart” then select payment type

2.   Make Check Payable to Show Me Gourd Society and mail to:

The Gourd Sisters

1724 Stoney Terrace Dr.

Ballwin, MO 63021



If you have any questions, contact Lindy Hoffman & Ann Beninato at gourdsisters@aol.com and for the subject please reference SMGS Membership.