48th Annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

Posted: December 5, 2020

WEST FRIENDSHIP, Maryland, December 4, 2020 — For the second year in a row, the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival will be held virtually. The 48th annual festival will be held on May 1st and 2nd, 2021, with most events happening online. The Festival theme will be “Staying Home and Staying Safe until 2022”.

“Because we usually bring tens of thousands of people together from across the country and around the globe for one weekend, holding the festival as a virtual event in 2021 is the only responsible decision we could make”, said Festival Chairman Gwen Handler and Maryland Sheep Breeders Association President Jeff White in announcing the decision. “By making this decision now, we will be able to focus all of our talents and energies into making this the best virtual festival we can.” 

According to General Manager Kris Thorne, “We will build upon what we did for the 2020 virtual festival by incorporating more of our contests, competitions, and educational events than time permitted us to do last year. The vendor marketplace and virtual fleece sale will be back; we will have new artwork and will produce our printed catalog, which has become a cherished keepsake for many; and we will again have t-shirts, tote bags and other festival memorabilia for sale in our online store.”

Stay tuned for further information as plans unfold, and connect with us on social media https://www.facebook.com/MarylandSheepandWoolFestival and https://www.facebook.com/groups/mswfOnlineCommunity.

Check back on May 1, when we will be unveiling our “Virtual Information Tent”, your roadmap to the virtual festival.

In the meantime, visit our New and Noteworthy page for a sneak peek at what we have planned.

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2026 Catalog Cover Artist Andrea Wisnewski

Find out more about our 2026 cover artist Andrea Wisnewski.

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It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Mary Streaker, one of the founders of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Mary passed away yesterday, just two months shy of her 95th birthday.Mary's influence on our Festival, the Howard County Fairgrounds, and countless individuals cannot be overstated. She was a teacher, mentor, artist, leader, volunteer, and friend whose passion for education, creativity, and community helped shape the Festival we know today.Many of us were fortunate to know Mary personally. Even in recent years, she continued to attend Festival meetings when she was able, reconnecting with the volunteers and friends who had worked alongside her for decades. Her wisdom, enthusiasm, and deep commitment to preserving and celebrating the fiber arts inspired generations of volunteers, exhibitors, artists, and fairgoers.Mary's legacy lives on through the Home Arts Department, the Fine Arts and Photo Competitions, and the many traditions she helped establish and nurture. The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival exists today in part because of the vision, dedication, and countless hours of service that Mary and her fellow founders invested so many years ago.On behalf of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Mary's family, friends, students, and all who were touched by her remarkable life. We are grateful for her contributions, her friendship, and the enduring example she set for all of us.Mary will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.Visitation will be held at Haight Funeral Home, Sykesville, Maryland, on June 17 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. and 6:00–8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on June 18 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in the Howard County Fairgrounds Dining Hall. ... See MoreSee Less
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LOST AND FOUND!2026 MD Sheep & Wool If you lost an item at the Festival please contact gro.loowdnapeehs@ofni. We do have a few items that were left behind and will work with you to determine if any of them are yours! Glasses, wallets, journal, necklace, scarf, etc., etc. We'd like to see you reunited!! ... See MoreSee Less
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🐑 All the final details are coming together and we are excited to see everyone!!! Please expect heavy traffic on Sat am, so plan ahead! SO much to see and do all weekend! Come out and support local, small, creative owned businesses and agriculture at the #mdsw sheepandwool.org ... See MoreSee Less
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