New York State Sheep and Wool Festival

Annual gatherings of fiber-arts enthusiasts in the United States, aka "Rhinebeck"

New York State Sheep and Wool Festival

Keyed fiddle at the 2006 festival

Begins| Third weekend in October
Ends| Sunday
Frequency| Annual
Location(s)| Rhinebeck, New York
Inaugurated| 1980
Participants| Knitters, sheep breeders, wool spinners

The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is an annual gathering of fiber-arts enthusiasts in the United States that draws approximately 30,000 visitors and more than 300 vendors.[1] It is held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York.

## History

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The festival was first held in 1980.[2] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[2]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no live in-person festival in 2020. Officials instead moved events online to a virtual platform. The festival returned to in-person festivities in 2021, though there was a decrease in attendance.[4] YouTuber KristyGlassKnits has a popular annual podcast called "Show Me Your Rhinebeck Sweater".[citation needed]

The New York Times notes that there is a trending interest in knitting among younger generations.[5]

## See also

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* Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
* Miss Wool of America Pageant

## External links

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* Official website

## References

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1. ^ Roshitsh, Kaley (19 October 2022). "Wool Wearings: Upstate Fashion at New York Sheep and Wool Fest". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
2. ^ a b c Tina Kelley (October 22, 2007). "A Festival Where Wool Is the Main Attraction". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
3. ^ Adrienne Martini (2010). Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously. Simon and Schuster. p. 145.
4. ^ Hubert, Brian (18 October 2021). "The 2021 NY State Sheep & Wool Festival". Times Union. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
5. ^ Adams, Rose (22 October 2022). "Young Knitters Discover a Decades-Old Wool Festival". New York Times (Style). Retrieved 22 October 2022.

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