New York State Sheep and Wool Festival

The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is one of the largest annual gatherings of fiber-arts enthusiasts in the United States. It is held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York.

New York State Sheep and Wool Festival
Keyed fiddle at the 2006 festival
BeginsThird weekend in October
EndsSunday
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Rhinebeck, New York
Inaugurated1972
ParticipantsKnitters, sheep breeders, wool spinners

History

The festival was first held in 1972.[1] It is attended by knitters, crocheters, handspinners, and growers of natural-fiber-producing livestock. The livestock includes sheep, goats, angora rabbits, llamas, musk oxen, and alpacas.[1] It also includes vendors of the materials and tools associated with each. It is held in October of each year at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York.[2] In addition to the myriad vendors and demonstrations of fiber arts activities, the festival features several livestock competitions, sheepdog trials and a sheep to shawl contest.

In 2007 for the 35th festival about 12,000 people attended. 375 vendors applied for the 275 spaces.[1]

Since there'll be no live in-person festival in 2020, a virtual version will take over. The COVID-19 pandemic caused officials to move some events online.

See also

References
  1. Tina Kelley (October 22, 2007). "A Festival Where Wool Is the Main Attraction". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-06. About 375 vendors applied for the festival, which is now in its 35th year, but only 275 made the cut. Some sold balls of qiviut, the fine, soft underbelly fiber from the musk ox, for $50 each; others sold felted cloches and pointy hats, spindles, spinning wheels, and bags upon bags of fleeces and of roving, thick lengths of wool ready to spin.
  2. Adrienne Martini (2010). Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously. Simon and Schuster. p. 145. ... the sense of touch has the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. ...

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