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. 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, goats, angora rabbits, llamas, musk oxen, and alpacas. 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. Since there was no live in-person festival in 2020, a virtual version was held. The COVID-19 pandemic caused officials to move some events online. The in-person festival was back to normal in 2021. YouTuber KristyGlassKnits has a popular annual podcast called "Show Me Your Rhinebeck Sweater". New York State Sheep