It is a fun experience to go to fiber festivals, from sheep and alpaca sheering, classes, vendors for yarn, rovings, tools, books and good food n fun! If you go to a festival, please send us a review to post or let us know of a festival not listed below. We are constantly adding to this list and revising the links as they change. Check back.
Festival Survival Tips
1. Bring CASH as well as credit cards. Most vendors can't process your card on-site and have to write up credit card slips for later, plus you'll want to eat, drink and buy little things, and the ATM on the fairgrounds charge high fees
2. Comfortable shoes! You will be walking miles and not even know it! Dress in layers and dress to flop on the ground. There is little seating in the festival, and on the grass is the most common place to rest.
3. Unless you can survive on fried things and hunks of lamb, bring food and snacks like fruit, bars, etc. I bring yogurt and trail mix and fruit rolls ups and they are perfect for the day. And bring water, I usually bring two small bottles.
4. If you want to save your arms, bring a rolling bag.Rolling bags are great for purchases!! I use a rolling bag and a backpack. my backpack has a cooler bag so the snacks and water stay icy cold.
5. Bring a notepad. Some yarns don't have labels and you'll never remember the yardage on your unmarked purchases, or the email address of that spinner you want to contact later.
6. Bring a camera for your blog or to send to us for an article and review!
MSWF 2007
The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is the "King " of all the festivals. In existence since 1973, this year's festival, on May 5th and 6th is the thirty-fourth festival to celebrate sheep, wool and all things fiber. The MSWF is always held the first full weekend in May and has grown from a sleepy little event to a full blown celebration with people traveling from all over the globe to attend.
The idea, when first begun, was to have an alternative avenue for shepherds to sell fleeces to spinners. At that time, the Wool Pool was (and continues to be for some) the major source of income for the sale of fleeces. Unfortunately (to my mind) the Wool Pool lumps fleeces of all breeds together and pays one set fee. The fee paid last year was approximately forty cents a pound; not, you'll agree, a decent price for all but the poorest of fleeces. Maryland sheep breeders decided to hold a festival where breeders could sell their fleeces and to allow craft booths where spinners and weavers could sell their hand crafted items.
The MSWF is a work of dedicated volunteers who work untold hours to tirelessly promote all aspects of sheep, wool and related products. Education plays a key role and a lot of the workshops are free and open to the public. Admittance to the festival and parking are also free.
The MSWF website for a listing of classes ranging from shepherding, felting, knitting, spinning, weaving and more including paid and free. If you want to learn how to shear a sheep, there's even a class for you! The auctions aren't to be missed either...fleeces, shepherding equipment and fiber equipment all at excellent prices. The Sheep to Shawl Competition earns a lot of interest with groups weighing in from all over the country and the shawls are auctioned off at day's end.
If you're interested in tee shirts, aprons, hats, or other Festival souvenirs, go directly to the souvenir tent. There's usually a long line and it's easier to get it over with than wait twice or three times as long later. Festival food features lamb and seating is usually on the grass so make sure your clothes are easy care. All vendors take cash, and most take checks and credit cards as well.
The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is fantastic and a not to be missed experience. Planning carefully ensures you'll have a top flight experience that you will want to repeat in years to come.
Please visit the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival website, for classes, teachers, vendors and other information.
If you would like to add to this article, please contact: editor@clothslineezine.com
Stitches Listings of Camps and Shows
link to events in your area
By State
Arizona
Sheep Is Life Celebration - June - Dine College, Tsaile, AZ (The Navajo Nation) http://www.navajolifeway.org/
California
California Wool& Fiber Festival - September - Boonville -http://www.fiberfestival.com/
Conference of Northern California Handweavers - April - Santa Clara - http://www.cnch.org/
Natural Fiber Fair - October - Redway, CA - madenson@asis.com
Colorado
All Breed Fiber Animal Show - Gunnison County, CO - April - 970.641.1260
Estes Park Wool Market - June - Estes Park, CO - http://www.estesnet.com/events/woolmarket.htm
Connecticut
Connecticut Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival - April - Vernon - www.ctsheep.org
Idaho
Trailing of the Sheep Festival- Ketchum, Idaho -October-http://www.trailingofthesheep.org/Illinois
Stephenson County Fiber Art Fair - April - Cedarville, IL - Charlene Foley - 815.369.5186
IowaIowa Summer Sheep & Wool Festival- June-
Indiana
Annual Fleece Fair - April - Greencastle, Indiana - http://www.fleecefair.comKentucky
KY Alpaca Festival - Perryville, Kentucky http://www.kyfestivals.com/details.php?id=5185Maine
Fiber at Fryeburg - September - Fryeburg, ME - http://www.fryeburgfair.com/#
Maine Fiber Frolic -June - Windsor - http://www.fiberfrolic.com
Maryland
Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival - May - Howard County Fairground - http://www.sheepandwool.org
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Sheep & Woolcraft Fair - May - Cummington - www.masheepwool.org
Michigan
Northern Michigan Lamb & Wool Festival - September - West Branch - http://www.nmlw.homestead.com/
Sheep & Wool Festival - September @ Mt. Bruce Station, MI - http://www.sheepstuff.com/Festival.html
Minnesota
Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival - Lake Elmo, MN - May - http://burroak.hypermart.net/festival.htm
Montana
SW Montana Sheep & Wool Festival - June - Dillon - swmontanasheepwoolfestival@hotmail.com
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival - May - Contoocook - daowens@erols.com
Nevada
Heart of America Sheep Show & Fiber Fest - June - Nevada, Missouri - http://www.moncwga.com
New Hampshire
Northeast Handspinners, The Gathering - November, 2006 - http://www.northeasthandspinners.org/html/nha-events.htm#The%20Gathering
New Mexico
Wool Festival @ Taos - October - New Mexico - http://www.taoswoolfestival.org/
New Jersey
Harvest Sheep & Fiber Festival of NJ - September - Woodstown - http://www.njsheepandfiber.org
New York
Fingerlakes Fiber Arts and Crafts Festival - September - Hemlock, NY - http://www.gvhg.org/fest.html
NY Sheep & Wool Festival - October - Rhinebeck - http://www.sheepandwool.com/
Washington County, NY Sheep & Fiber Farm Tour - April - reafield@sover.net
Wool Arts Tour - October - Monadnock Region, NY - http://www.miragealpacas.com/
North Carolina
Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF) - October - Fletcher, NC - http://www.saffsite.org/page.php?page=home.htm
Midwest Festival of Fibers Wool Gathering - September - www.awoolgathering.com
Oregon
Linn County Lamb & Wool Fair- May- Scio, Oregon http://www.sciolambfair.com/index.htm
Black Sheep Gathering - June - Eugene, Oregon - http://www.blacksheepgathering.org
Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, September - Canby, Oregon - http://www.flockandfiberfestival.com/
Utah
SOAR - October - http://www.interweave.com/events/default.asp
Vermont
Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival - October - Essex Junction - http://www.vermontsheep.org/festival.html
Virginia
Fall Fiber Festival - October - Orange County, VA - http://www.fallfiberfestival.org/
SHEEP SHEARING DAY AT THISTLE COVE FARM, 3rd Saturday in April - Tazewell County, VA - www.thistlecovefarm.com - festival@netscope.net - 276.988.4121
West Virginia
VA Angora Goat & Mohair Association - June - Lewisburg, WV - http://www.angoragoats.com/Show/infoshow.html
Wyoming
The Gathering - September - Encapment, WY - clee@union-tel.com