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.

2024 Festival Highlights include:

• Big Sheep Parade with 1,500 sheep trailing down Main Street in Ketchum, Idaho.
• National Qualifying Sheepdog Trials featuring 80 of the county’s most talented border collies and their handlers competing for top awards.
• Sheep Folklife Fair featuring Basque, Scottish, Polish, and Peruvian dancers and musicians, sheep shearing demonstrations, 80+ sheep and wool product vendors, children’s activities and more.
• Sheep Tales Gathering will feature “The Future of Conservation In A Crowded West,” a conversation and panel focusing on the importance of both private and public lands, the critical role of agriculture in conservation and obstacles faced by those stewarding these landscapes.
• Culinary Events:
  • Cooking with Lamb Classes will feature great culinary techniques from six expert local Idaho chefs. Learn from the best how to prepare creative lamb dishes. Wine and sides will be paired with each class dish for an extra special delight. Classes include Marcona Almond Encrusted Lamb Rack, Lamb Cornish Pastry, Fasah – Yemeni Lamb Stew, and Japanese Lamb Curry. There is also a class on Cheese Making using cow’s and sheep’s milk.
  • Farm to Table Lamb Dinners on October 1, 2 and 3 at Mountain Humane near Hailey will be prepared by local Chef Al McCord. The four-course dinners will feature local Idaho lamb from Darby Northcott’s 3/D Ranch on Tuesday, from Kathleen and Brian Bean’s Lava Lake Ranch on Wednesday and the Peavey’s Flat Top Ranch on Thursday. As much of the plate as possible is locally sourced and the ranchers and farmers will attend the dinners to discuss their products. Seating is limited, and tickets sell fast. These are unique opportunities to get to know Idaho through its ranchers and food growers and experience the incredible talents of a local chef.
  • For the Love of Lamb Dine-Around will take place in association with eleven top local restaurants and chefs in Ketchum on Friday, October 4. A variety of creative and tasty American Lamb ‘baaa-ites’ will be offered starting at 4:30 pm and will end when all the bites are gone (usually within an hour!) A $25.00 “passport,” which can be purchased in advance online, gets you at least five bites. This fun evening out on the town is a popular Festival favorite.
  • A Lamb Fest will take place on Saturday, October 5 during the Sheep Folklife Fair. Enjoy delicious and creative American Lamb dishes prepared by six Idaho chefs and restaurants. Beverages are also available for purchase. Choose your favorite restaurant when you arrive at the Fair and purchase tickets on-site.
  • The Happy Trails Festival Closing Party will be held on Sunday, October 6, at the Ketchum Town Square. It is the perfect spot to gather from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm to enjoy delicious lamb prepared and served by Al’s Sustainability Center with live music by Gary and Cindy Braun and the Kim Stocking Band.
• Wool Fest featuring a variety of classes and workshops.
• Sheep Reads Festival Book Club showcasing author Ivan Doig’s book “This House of Sky – Landscapes of a Western Mind” and hosted by writer Diane Josephy Peavey.
• 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 in the morning and the Kim Stocking Band in the afternoon.

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

The 2024 Big Sheep Parade is sponsored by the City of Ketchum and the Wood River Women’s Foundation, with many other supporters, volunteers and friends bringing the entire Festival to fruition.

See 2023 venue map and download HERE.

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.

Media Contacts: 

Laura Musbach Drake, Director, Trailing of the Sheep Festival, 208.720.0585, laura@trailingofthesheep.org

Carol Waller, Festival PR, CW Communications, 208.720.3965, carol@cw-communications.com

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