28th Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival
Various LocationsSave 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 ...