The TAUNY and St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce barn quilt bus tour will begin at the TAUNY Center at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 14. (Photo provided)

CANTON — Traditional Arts in Upstate New York and the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will host a daylong barn quilt bus tour Saturday, Sept. 14. The tour is open to both English and French speakers, and will begin at the TAUNY Center at 9 a.m. and return there at 4 p.m. Barn quilts are the focus of an energetic grassroots effort in St. Lawrence County to increase tourism traffic. In addition to enjoying the graphic appeal of this public art form, participants on the bus tour will learn the stories behind their meaning.

The tour will make stops at Pickens Hall to learn about the Amish and see their quilts, which are the inspiration for many barn quilts; Bella Brooke Winery for lunch and wine tasting; and the Iva Smith Memorial Gallery to see a barn quilter in action and learn the stories behind the quilts at the gallery. There will also be stops at several barn quilts along the route, and opportunities at each venue to buy souvenirs and local hand-made products, including barn quilts. The cost for the tour is $45. To register, visit www.tauny.org.

The TAUNY Center is located at 53 Main St. TAUNY is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate the folk traditions and local culture of everyday life — present and past — in the North Country. To do so, TAUNY seeks to research and preserve a record of diverse groups, customs and traditions; to recognize and empower traditional arts and artists; to identify and promote regional identity; and to provide opportunities for people of all ages to learn about folklore and culture.