Regional Fiber Festivals

Have you been to a fiber festival? I’m getting ready to go to Knit City Montreal in a few days and regional fiber festivals are on my mind. 

© independentstitch, sheep shearing at the Estes Wool Market

I’ve only known of two types of fiber festivals. Ones like Knit City are filled with vendors and classes are available. They are like a trade show, taking place in a large urban hotel or convention space. There are local yarn stores represented, fiber farmers, knitwear designers, notions makers, and more. It’s where I hope to find some new goodies for the shop and meet up with Max and Vincent, the two men behind Les Garcons yarn. I need to return three sweaters that we’ve had on display to Julie Asselin so hopefully I’ll get to meet her also!

© Houston Livestock Show, Llama at the Houston Livestock Show

The other type of fiber festival is one that takes place at a fairgrounds or other inside/outside venue. These feature animals and demonstrations in addition to vendors and classes. 

© Alpaca by Design, Vicuna

Colorado and New Mexico have at least three opportunities to attend fiber festivals that take place at fairgrounds. These are so much fun because you get to see different breeds of sheep, alpaca, angora rabbits, angora goats, a llama or two, and of course sheep dog trials. There are always children’s activities and many different kinds of demonstrations including sheep to shawl competitions and weaving. Often there are fashion shows and even the llamas get dressed up and parade around!

Coming up June 5th - 8th is the Estes Wool Market, with the marketplace open the 7th and 8th. This is a wonderful day out! The petting zoo has an excellent variety of animals including rare vicunas and a 30 year old giant tortoise!

If you’re game to take a beautiful drive to Salida in September, the Salida Fiber Festival is the 6th and 7th. You can take Hwy 285 for an ‘off the freeway’ experience; it’s about three and a half hours away. This event sounds larger than the Estes Wool Market.

The last one is the Mountain and Valley Wool Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico, formerly known as the Taos Wool Festival. The dates are October 4th and 5th. This will be their 42nd year; it’s a large festival and very well attended. 

Of these three, the only one I’ve been to is Estes but I think it’s time to pick one of the others for this fall! What about you?

Happy knitting,