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October 2 - October 6

28th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival

Save the Dates! The 28th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival will be held October, 2-6, 2024!

Sheep have been trailing through the Wood River Valley of Idaho for well over a century and are an integral part of Idaho’s heritage.

Each fall the iconic 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 sheep, herders, history, food, 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, a Sheep Folklife Fair, lamb culinary offerings, a Wool Festival with classes and workshops, music, dance, storytelling, championship Sheepdog Trials and, the always entertaining, Big Sheep Parade with 1,500 sheep hoofing it down Main Street in Ketchum.

Festival Highlights include:

  • Big Sheep Parade with 1,500 sheep trailing down Main Street in Ketchum
  • National Qualifying Sheepdog Trials featuring over 80 of the county’s most talented border collies and their handlers competing for top awards
  • Sheep Folklife Fair featuring the Basque, Scottish, and Peruvian dancers and musicians, sheep shearing demonstrations, over 70 sheep and wool product vendors, children’s activities and more
  • Sheep Tales Gathering will present “A Navajo Woman’s Life Journey as a Weaver” featuring TahNibaa Naataanii, a 5th generation Navajo weaver and sheep rancher from New Mexico who raises the heritage breed sheep, the Navajo Churro.
  • Culinary Events with For the Love of Lamb tastings, Lamb Fest at the Folklife Fair, Cooking with Lamb classes, a Cheese Making Class, and Farm to Table Lamb Dinners featuring Idaho lamb from local ranchers
  • Wool Fest featuring a variety of classes and workshops
  • Hikes and Histories featuring Idaho’s sheep ranchers and local historians and storytellers
  • Happy Trails Closing Party in the Ketchum Town Square (before and after the Big Sheep Parade) featuring vendors, food, and live music by Cindy & Gary Braun and The Pisten Bullys.

For the detailed schedule, tickets, and lodging deals, visit www.trailingofthesheep.org.

See 2023 venue map below and download 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.

Media Contacts: 

Laura Musbach Drake, Director, Trailing of the Sheep Festival, 208.720.0585, [email protected]

Carol Waller, Festival PR, CW Communications, 208.720.3965, [email protected]

IMAGES TO DOWNLOAD FOR MEDIA USE HERE: https://trailingofthesheep.org/news-media/media/

Details

Start:
October 2
End:
October 6
Event Categories:
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Event Tags:
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Website:
https://trailingofthesheep.org/

Venue

Various Locations
Ketchum ID 83340 United States

Organizer

Trailing of the Sheep
Phone
(208) 720-0585
Email
info@trailingofthesheep.org

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