MACHIAS – The traditional art of quilt making is being given a boost from modern technology for this year’s annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival.

For the first time, raffle tickets for the festival quilt are available online at the festival’s Web site.

Ellen Farnsworth, chairwoman of the festival, said having the tickets online is convenient for people who can’t be here for the festival as well as for those who want to purchase tickets ahead of time.

A treasured festival item, the annual quilt is handmade by a group of community women led by Helen Vose, known as the craft group at Centre Street Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. It features a different design integrating the theme of blueberries each year.

The church sponsors the festival, in conjunction with the town of Machias and the Machias Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. The fun starts Tuesday, Aug. 12, with the first performance of the annual Blueberry Festival Musical, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 17. A complete schedule of events is available on the festival Web site or by picking up a brochure at area businesses.

Quilt tickets are also available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays at the Congregational church in Machias. The church will open at 9 a.m. the week of the festival, starting Monday, Aug. 11.

For information about the quilt or about the blueberry festival, call 255-6665 or go to www.machiasblueberry.com.