29th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Trailing-of-the-Sheep-Festival-Parade-sheep-band-best-WM.-Credit-Carol-Waller_1-96zfqp.tmp_

Sheep have been trailing through the Wood River Valley of Idaho for well over a century-and-a-half and are an integral part of Idaho’s western heritage. It is only fitting that they take center stage at the 29^th annual celebration of the iconic Trailing of the Sheep Festival, October 8-12, 2025, which celebrates the sheep, herders, history, and food of this unique tradition, and is recognized as one of the “Top Ten Fall Festivals in the World” by msn.com.

Each fall, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival honors the 150+ year annual tradition of moving sheep (‘trailing’) from high mountain summer pastures down through the Valley to traditional winter grazing and lambing areas in the south. This annual migration is living history and the focus of a unique and authentic Festival that celebrates the people, arts, cultures, and traditions of Idaho’s sheep ranching families, highlighting the principal contributors – the Basques, Scottish and Peruvians.

The five-day Festival includes nonstop activities in multiple venues – history, folk arts, an authentic Sheep Folklife Fair, lamb culinary offerings, Wool Fest classes, music, storytelling, National Qualifying Sheepdog Trials and, the always entertaining, Big Sheep Parade with over 1,200 sheep hoofing it down Main Street in Ketchum.

2025 Festival Highlights include:

Big Sheep Parade with 1,200 sheep trailing down Main Street in Ketchum, Idaho.
National Qualifying Sheepdog Trials featuring 80 of the country’s most talented border collies and their handlers competing for top awards.
Sheep Folklife Fair featuring Basque, Scottish, and Peruvian dancers and musicians, sheep shearing demonstrations, 80+ sheep and wool product vendors, and children’s activities.
Sheep Tales Gathering will feature Dr. John Bieter, professor of History at Boise State University, and Iñaki Arrieta Baro, head of the Jon Bilbao Basque Library at the University of Nevada, Reno, who will discuss the lertxun-marrak or arborglyphs – unique cultural artifacts that were etched by Basque sheepherders during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the aspen groves of the Western mountains.
Culinary Events with For the Love of Lamb tastings, Lamb Fest at the Folklife Fair, Cooking with Lamb classes and a Cheese Making class, and Farm to Table Lamb Dinners featuring Idaho lamb from local ranchers.
Wool Fest featuring 22 classes and workshops on creating with wool.
Happy Trails Closing Party in Ketchum Town Square (before and after the Big Sheep Parade) featuring vendors, food, and live music.

For daily activities schedule click here. For tickets, lodging deals and more visit www.trailingofthesheep.org.

The 2025 Big Sheep Parade is sponsored by the City of Ketchum, D.L. Evans Bank, First Lite, Thurston Charitable Foundation, Zenergy and Jay Cutler Event Services, with many other supporters, volunteers and friends bringing the entire Festival to fruition.

TO VOLUNTEER CLICK HERE.

About the Trailing of the Sheep Festival

The Trailing of the Sheep Festival has also garnered some well-deserved accolades over the years, including being recognized as one of the Top Ten Fall Festivals in the World by msn.com travel, Top Ten US Fall Festivals by smartertravel.com, Top Animal Festivals in the World and Top Ten Fall Festivals by USA Today, Top 7 Fun Fall Festivals by AARP, One of the Greatest Cultural Events in the West by Northwest Travel, and recipient of the Society of American Travel Writer’s Phoenix Award for best in cultural tourism, and the Idaho Governor’s Award for Cultural Heritage.