From August 9-11, 2012, museums and galleries around Lowell explode in a riot of colorful textile art. The Lowell Quilt Festival is a citywide celebration of fiber arts, with a FREE SHUTTLE linking all venues.  Centerpiece of the festival is the IMAGES quilt show at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium (with vendor mall). Festival wristband: $12  – good for all 3 days and all venues except American Textile History Museum ($8). Also participating: New England Quilt Museum, Whistler House Museum of Art, American Textile History Museum, Brush Gallery, ALL Arts Gallery, Appleton Mills Gallery, Ayer Lofts Gallery, Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Gallery Night: Friday, August 10, 5-8 pm at all venues except Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Lectures, trunk shows, receptions, film screenings.