It's back! The New York Sheep and Wool Festival returns to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. The Northeast's thriving sheep industry is showcased and celebrated each year in the family-friendly Sheep & Wool Festival on Oct. 17 and 18, 2026.
You won't want to miss this exciting celebration of art and agriculture.
Visit with sheep, llamas, and alpacas while browsing products made from their luscious fibers. Children will enjoy the Pawstars Canine Frisbee Demos, as well as the activities tent, where they can make their own age-appropriate crafts. Mom and dad can opt for the specialty food and wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. And to top it off, there’s great fair food in the food court. Find out why this event draws 30,000 visitors from across the country to the lovely village of Rhinebeck and the Dutchess County Fairgrounds!
Browse and shop from hundreds fiber artisans. Knitters will appreciate the multitude of yarns and dyes available, and fashionistas will swoon over the hand-crafted wool clothing, fleece coats, and angora scarves. There’s even jewelry and glassware with sheep motifs. There’s a bag check area available to store your purchases, so you might as well start your holiday shopping early! A can't-miss event of the weekend is the fashion show "Make it With Wool." Winners move on to the national competition, so the stakes are high!
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Competitions and shows are the heart of the festival, which features hundreds of sheep, llamas and alpacas. Angora goats — which originate from the Middle East — compete in white and naturally colored categories. Fiber arts contests take place throughout the day, including chop-stick knitting, spinning wheel (for the longest yarn), crochet and more. For an overview of the entire textile process, watch the fleece-to-shawl competition.
Plus, don't miss the leaping llama competition Sunday only! Head for Barn 27 to catch the six-foot llamas challenge each other and defy gravity! Who will leap the highest? Who will take home the first-place ribbon? Get there early for the Llama Parade on Saturday!
One of the Northeast’s truly unique events, NYS Sheep and Wool Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $18 per day at the gate. Tickets can also be purchased online in advance for $15 (plus a small convenience fee). To purchase yours, click here.
Arrive a day or two early, and you can sharpen your crafting skills and learn some new tricks at a wide array of fiber workshops on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 15 and 16. Your tuition to any of these workshops includes your admission to the weekend festival.
For info on the venue and directions, visit Dutchess County Fairgrounds, which is located at 6550 Spring Brook Avenue/Route 9 in Rhinebeck, N.Y., 12572 or call (845) 876-4000.
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