Photo by Andrew Rein
Name of Trip: Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival
Date: May 6
Time: Very very hard to park — strongly recommend Carpool from Giant — leave at 9:00 a.m. ; otherwise meet at EAST Entrance 10:00 a.m.
Location/Address:
Howard County Fairgrounds
2210 Fairground Road, West Friendship, MD 21794.
West of Baltimore [it opens at 8:30 a.m.]
Carpool Location/Time: Depart the Giant parking lot at 8750 Arliss St., Silver Spring, at 9:00 a.m. It is ~ 1 hour drive. Map of Carpool Location
Photo by Andrew Rein
Overview: Spend the day with sheep – its a huge festival with lots of animals, wool shearing demonstration, 4H kind of stuff.
History:
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.
Photo by Andrew Rein
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. Food vendors sell various lamb dishes including lamb burgers, gyros, and lamb sausage. There are also lamb cooking contests and lamb cooking demonstrations.
Photo by Andrew Rein
No pets allowed.
Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival
Leader: Phil Boyer
Cost: $5.00 entrance fee
Directions:
- Take I-95 NORTH, to the MD-32 WEST exit (38B), towards Columbia.
- MERGE onto MD-32 W.
- Turn LEFT onto MD-144 WEST (Frederick Road).
- Turn RIGHT at Fairgrounds Road into the EAST ENTRANCE of the fairgrounds.
Note: To expedite the movement of traffic, you also may be directed to overflow parking at the Howard County Farm Heritage Museum across from the fairgrounds.
The Howard County Fairgrounds has two entrances from MD-144 (Frederick Road) – one to the East near MD-32, and one to the West near MD-97. will meet at East entrance
Lunch: Food tents including lamb burgers, gyros, and lamb sausages!
Photo by Andrew Rein
Photo by Andrew Rein
Backup Option:
Los Compadres Mexican Cantina
10805 Birmingham Way
Suite 24
Woodstock, MD 21163