Celebrate Fiber and Farming at the 37th Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival
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The hills of Tunbridge will be alive with the sounds of bleating sheep, whirring spinning wheels, and toe-tapping music when the 37th Annual Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival returns to the Tunbridge Fairgrounds on October 4–5, 2025.
For two crisp autumn days, fiber enthusiasts, farmers, and families will come together to celebrate Vermont’s long tradition of sheep raising and the artistry that flows from it.
With peak foliage as the backdrop, this festival is one of the most colorful (and cozy) fall weekends in the state.
A Festival for All Things Fiber
Whether you’re an aspiring shepherd, an avid knitter, or simply someone who loves Vermont-made goods, the festival has something to spark your interest.
The fairgrounds will be filled with three vendor buildings and dozens of outdoor booths showcasing yarn, fleece, fiber animals, handcrafted goods, and farm-fresh products.
Pattern designers are the stars of this year’s festival, inspiring fiber artists with their creativity and showing off what’s possible with a few skeins of yarn and a spark of imagination.
Learning, Doing, and Discovering
Education is at the heart of the Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival.
Shepherd Talks delve into everything from animal health to fiber farming, while vendor demos showcase techniques such as felting, spinning, and working with specialty yarns.
If you’re eager to get your hands on the fiber, head to Heritage Hall for mini classes and hands-on workshops. On Saturday, you can learn to knit with mindfulness in Wellness for Knitters, while Sunday brings the chance to try needle felting basics or even make colorful jewelry from repurposed knitting needles.
The Thrill of the Green
Crowds always gather on the green for the ever-popular sheep shearing and herding demos.
Watching Jim and Ian McRae’s border collies round up a flock, or seeing a fleece expertly sheared off a sheep in minutes, is worth the price of admission alone.
Throughout the weekend, the Fiber Arts Contest and Designer Alley add even more inspiration, while activities like tatting, lace-making, rug hooking, and chopstick knitting contests bring fiber arts to life.
A ‘Vermonty’ Festival of Community
The festival is more than sheep and yarn; it’s a celebration of community.
This year, Royalton Community Radio will set up a mobile stage to provide live and recorded music, creating the perfect soundtrack for browsing vendors or picnicking between events.
Saturday’s lineup features Peter Neri and Granville Daze, while Sunday brings Jennings & McComber and Jim Rooney & Dan Ruddell.
Plan Your Visit to the Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival
The Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival runs Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds.
Admission is $10 per day for adults, $5 for children under 12, and toddlers get in free.
With fleece sales, fiber arts classes, vendor demos, animals, and a full slate of talks and workshops, there’s no better way to experience Vermont’s agricultural and creative heritage.
So pack a sweater, bring your curiosity, and spend a fall weekend immersed in the warmth of wool, the beauty of Vermont farms, and the joy of handmade craft.
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