New York State Sheep and Wool Festival
Encyclopedia
The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is one of the largest annual gatherings of fiber-arts enthusiasts in the United States
.
, angora rabbit
s, llamas, musk oxen, and alpaca
s. 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. 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The festival was first held in 1972. It is attended by knitters, crocheters, handspinners, and growers of natural-fiber-producing livestock. The livestock includes sheep, goatsCashmere wool
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from Cashmere and other types of goats. The word cashmere derives from an old spelling of Kashmir. Cashmere is fine in texture, and strong, light, and soft. Garments made from it provide excellent...
, angora rabbit
Angora rabbit
The Angora rabbit is a variety of domestic rabbit bred for its long, soft wool. The Angora is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit, originating in Ankara , Turkey, along with the Angora cat and Angora goat. The rabbits were popular pets with French royalty in the mid 18th century, and spread...
s, llamas, musk oxen, and alpaca
Alpaca
An alpaca is a domesticated species of South American camelid. It resembles a small llama in appearance.Alpacas are kept in herds that graze on the level heights of the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador, and northern Chile at an altitude of to above sea level, throughout the year...
s. It also includes vendors of the materials and tools associated with each. It is held in October of each year at the Dutchess County
Dutchess County, New York
Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York. 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
Sheep to shawl
A sheep to shawl contest involves multiple teams that shear a sheep, spin the fleece into yarn, and then weave it into a shawl. The winning team is judged on a combination of time and quality and difficulty of the design....
contest.
In 2007 for the 35th festival about 12,000 people attended. 375 vendors applied for the 275 spaces.