Maryland Sheep and Wool -- upcoming event -- May 7 and 8

[neotoma]

The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is coming up in about a week. Held the first full weekend of May every year, this is the largest Sheep and Wool festival on the East Coast of the USA -- it's free to the public, running from 9 to 6 Saturday and 9 to 5 Sunday at the Howard County Fairgrounds, West Friendship, Maryland (near Baltimore).

The festival can be a fun day-trip; it's definitely the place to be if you're into fiber arts to any degree, though you might want to leave your wallet with a trusted friend in that case.

There will be sheepdog demonstrations, breed conformation trials, the Parade of Sheep Breeds, a sheep-to-shawl competition, a gallery of entries for the garment, skein and fine arts awards, lamb and equipment auctions, and lots and lots of vendors.

I'm still looking for a carpool up on Saturday, if anyone is planning on going and has space.

Comments

[chomiji]

Huh, I wonder if my bunny-sitter will be there. I know she does these kinds of festivals - she shears sheep for people (she also does farm animal rescue). I have a hat knit from wool from sheep she sheared (which is silly, because I don't wear woolly things - they make me itch ... but it was a present).

[neotoma]

If she's enthusiastic about sheep and shepherding, she'll probably be there.

You might try washing your hat very carefully in warm water with shampoo or Dawn. Sometimes people react to the dye and/or leftover lanolin, and not the wool itself. On the other hand, the wool might just be too rough for you if you have sensitive skin.

[holli]

Oh, man. I'm going to be in Charleston for my sister's graduation that weekend, but I would otherwise love to go.

[neotoma]

Congratulations to your sister!

Next time, or maybe one of the smaller festivals later in the year.