Frequency Annual Phone +1 410-531-3647 | Location West Friendship Inaugurated 1973 | |
 | ||
Begins First full weekend in May Participants Knitters, sheep breeders, wool spinners Address 2210 Fairgrounds Rd, West Friendship, MD 21794, USA Similar Howard County Fairgroun, Associated Auctione & Apprais, Wine in the Woods, Montgom County Fair Grounds, Sugarloaf Crafts Festival Profiles | ||
2012 maryland sheep and wool festival narrated photos
The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is largest and longest-running showcase of domestic sheep and wool in the United States. The 2010 festival was the 37th consecutive. It is held at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland.
Contents
Maryland sheep and wool festival
History
The festival was started in 1973. In 2003 it attracted over 70,000 people. The 2014 festival was the 40th consecutive. It is sponsored by the Maryland Sheep Breeders Association. The festival's purpose is to "educate the public about sheep and wool". It is organized and staffed by volunteers from both the sheep breeding and fiber communities.
It is held annually during the first weekend in May at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland. It has vendors of wool yarn, and judging of more than 30 sheep breeds. Vendors of other fiber-producing livestock such as goats, angora rabbits, llamas, and alpaca also attend.
The festival includes live music, a parade of breeds, a sheep to shawl contest, and border collie demonstrations. Food vendors sell various lamb dishes including lamb burgers, gyros, and lamb sausage. There are also lamb cooking contests and lamb cooking demonstrations.