by Sarabeth Parido
As summer officially begins, we'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors, and attendees who made the 14th annual Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival a success. Held on May 18-19, 2024, the festival welcomed over 4,500 visitors to Masterson Station Park, our highest gate numbers since 2020! Lexington boasted excellent weather for the weekend, and our vendors got to enjoy a few beautiful Kentucky spring days! Our dedicated fiber enthusiasts, industry professionals, and curious visitors created a vibrant atmosphere, all eager to explore the wonders of the festival.
During the festival, our fleece show and sale boasted record numbers in sales of fleeces this year- many of our producers completely sold out. We are thankful for the associations' help promoting and supporting our efforts to make the fleece sale a priority.
Our merchandise table also saw record breaking sales- almost completely selling out by Saturday afternoon. If you missed out at the festival, we do have a second chance for anyone to buy a shirt or tote bag. Purchase directly from the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office website by visiting our online shop: https://www.kysheepandgoat.org/shop
The festival was just the start of an exciting season of fiber activities in our area. The Kentucky Fiber Trail, along with its many members, is excited to host the third annual Bluegrass Yarn and Fiber Crawl from July 26 to August 4, 2024. This event celebrates and showcases the finest fiber producers and shops in the Commonwealth region.
The Yarn and Fiber Crawl aims to highlight the unique essence of the Kentucky Fiber Trail. We invite individuals, shop owners, fiber producers, and studio proprietors across the Bluegrass region to participate and showcase their shops and farms.
During the 9-day crawl, each location on the trail will set its own operating hours. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of fibers and textiles. For more details on how to participate in our Bluegrass Yarn and Fiber Crawl, please visit our website at www.kentuckyfibertrail.com/byfc. The interactive map is up now, with a printable passport to collect stamps along the route- a more in depth vendor guide will be available June 25th. Check out the map and see what stops are near you and plan a road trip to visit some locations new to you!
Sarabeth Parido, is the Director of the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival and The Kentucky Fiber Trail. She raises her own small flock of sheep in Clark County, Kentucky along with her husband and four sons.
