by Andrew Rein

Name of Trip:  Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival  

Date: Sunday, May 6

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., rain-or-shine.  Or meet at carpool location at 8:00 a.m. (see below)

Location/Address:  

Howard County Fairgrounds
2210 Fairground Road, West Friendship, MD 21794.
West of Baltimore [it opens at 8:30 a.m.]

But:  It is very very hard to park!!

We strongly recommend carpooling (at 8:00 a.m.).  See below

Otherwise, meet at Information Tent, just inside EAST Entrance at 9:00 a.m.

See map at: Sheep and Wool Map

Leader: Andrew Rein, 240-676-1429

Carpool time/location:  8:00 a.m. departure

Meet at the northeast corner of the parking lot of Hillandale Shopping Center:

From New Hampshire Blvd (650), take Powder Mill Rd. to the first entrance on the right and into the lot, then an immediate left and park at the top of the lot, (catty-corner from Unique Thrift Store and opposite from Domino’s):

 1731 Powder Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD 20903. 

See arrow on map below.

 

Overview:

 2018-maryland-sheep-wool-festival

Spend the day with sheep – its a huge festival with lots of animals, wool shearing demonstration, 4H kind of stuff.

The festival was started in 1973. By 2003 it attracted over 70,000 people. 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 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, and a photography competition. Food vendors sell various lamb dishes including lamb burgers, gyros, and lamb sausage. There are also lamb cooking contests and lamb cooking demonstrations.

No pets allowed.

Cost: $5.00 entrance fee.   

Note you can buy tickets in advance and save time: shorten-your-time-in-line

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lunch: Food tents including lamb burgers, gyros, and lamb sausages!