Major sheep and wool festivals in the United States happen annually in Maryland, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, New Hampshire, and Michigan. The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is the largest sheep festival in the United States.
Table of Contents
What is a sheep and wool festival?
Sheep and wool festivals celebrate the shearing and spinning of wool and other fibers from sheep. They typically happen in late summer or early fall, when farmers show off their flocks of sheep.
Sheep and wool festivals typically include competitions for the best-looking sheep and various activities for children.
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
City: West Friendship, Maryland
Location: Howard County Fairgrounds
When: May
The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is the largest sheep festival in the United States. The festival happens each May at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland. The event has been held since 1974, drawing thousands of attendees from around the country to celebrate sheep farming and wool production.
The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival focuses on all things related to wool production in the state. The event features live music, craft booths, and demonstrations by fiber artists, as well as vendors selling everything from wool products to food, arts and crafts, clothing, books, and more.
There are also demonstrations of shearing techniques and other sheep-related activities for children.
Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival
City: Jefferson, Wisconsin
Location: Jefferson County Fair Park
When: September
The Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival is held each September at the Jefferson County Fair Park in Jefferson, Wisconsin. The festival celebrates sheep farming and wool production throughout Wisconsin’s agricultural history.
It celebrates all things related to sheep farming in the state by offering a wide range of activities for children, such as petting zoos and farm tours. Ewes are shown off during this festival, and there are demonstrations on how sheep are raised and sheared.
Sheep breeders give presentations on how to knit or crochet with natural fibers like wool and how to make felt items like holiday decorations and wreaths.
Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Festival
City: New Milford, Pennsylvania
Location: Harford Fair Grounds
When: September
Also known as the Endless Mountains Fiber Festival, the Pennsylvania Sheep and Wool Festival takes place each year at the Harford Fair Grounds in New Milford, Pennsylvania.
The event features a parade, live music, entertainment for children, and other activities celebrating sheep farming throughout Pennsylvania.
The festival features demonstrations by fiber artists who use natural fibers like wool for their work.
It also hosts workshops on artistry with natural fibers like silk and linen, and there’s even an area where you can spin your own yarn.
New York State Sheep and Wool Festival
City: Kingston, New York
Location: Ulster County Fairgrounds
When: September
The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is held annually in September at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in Kingston, New York. The event features several activities to celebrate sheep farming, including demonstrations by master shepherds from around the world who have raised their own flocks.
Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival
City: Tunbridge, Vermont
Location: Tunbridge Fairgrounds
When: October
The Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival is held each October at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds in Tunbridge, Vermont.
The event serves as a celebration of wool production and the history of sheep farming in the United States. It features live music and children’s activities, as well as workshops related to wool spinning, wool dyeing, weaving, sheep shearing, and lambing.
New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival
City: Deerfield, New Hampshire
Location: Deerfield Fairgrounds, 34 Stage Road Deerfield, NH 03037
When: May
The New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival is held each May at the Deerfield Fairgrounds in Deerfield, New Hampshire.
It includes sheep shearing presentations and fleece sales courtesy of the festival’s own flock of sheep. In addition to the sheep shows, there are other events like wool spinning workshops, wool dyeing classes, and a ropemaking demonstration.
The festival also showcases lectures by experts on all aspects of sheep farming and wool production.
Michigan Fiber Festival
City: Allegan, Michigan
Location: Allegan County Fairgrounds
When: August
The Michigan Fiber Festival is held each August at the Allegan County Fairgrounds in Allegan, Michigan.
Since the 1990s, this festival has attracted fiber artists from across the state to demonstrate their skills in creating yarns and textiles using natural fibers. Some of these fibers include wool, alpaca, and angora goat hair.
The festival features an art show as well as classes on knitting, felting, and spinning.