Volunteer

Many hands make light work – the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival would not be possible without the support of many volunteers.

General Volunteers

We need general volunteers ahead of time, on Saturday and Sunday during Festival hours, and to clean up after the Festival closes. Here are just a few of the volunteer opportunities. More details will be posted on our online volunteer sign up page when it goes live.

Festival Set-Up – This always happens on the Sunday before the Festival, which will be April 28, 2024, and includes a pot luck lunch. This is mostly manual labor, like setting up sheep pens.

During the Festival – Sometimes we need a helping hand to just carry something or pitch in where needed. We need general volunteers for various tasks on Saturday and Sunday during Festival hours.

Sunday Night Tear Down – Time to put the Festival back in the box for another year! Young and/or strong arms are especially needed here to help take down the sheep pens. THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS ON SUNDAY NIGHT.

Greeters

Come be a friendly, welcoming face as a greeter at the front gate.

Retail Sales

Help with the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival’s 2024 retail sales. On Sunday, April 28, help set up shelving units (and enjoy a potluck lunch); jobs on Monday through Friday include folding T-shirts (learning the fine art of using a folding board along the way) plus stocking the shelves with T-shirts and other Festival merchandise; from Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, you can help with sales (no money handling), restocking merchandise, and keeping the lines of customers moving. After the Festival closes on Sunday there are very important take-down tasks, as the building has to be empty by the end of the evening. This is a huge undertaking that is often forgotten. Please come help if you have some time. All work is indoors, on a concrete floor.

Fleece Show & Sale

The Fleece Show committee organizes their own cadre of volunteers. If you have volunteered for them in the past, they will be in touch. If you have not volunteered for them before and are interested in doing so, email .


Everyone who volunteers gets an exclusive volunteer shirt which is NOT available to the general public!

Everyone who signs up online to work on Festival weekend receives free admission to the Festival on the day they are scheduled to work!

Maryland students – depending on county/school policies, we may be able to certify Student Service Learning hours. Please contact to discuss eligibility and requirements. 


How to Get in on the Action

Click this link or the button below to choose the tasks and times that work best for you.

Sign Up!

Volunteers MUST sign up before the Festival. We need to know who is coming and when.

All volunteers should check-in at the Volunteer Check-In Tent just outside the main gate upon arrival at the Festival, then proceed to the specified location at the start of their shift.

Email general questions about volunteering to .

Thank you for helping!

2024 Festival Gear Now Available

A selection of 2024 Festival Merchandise is now available. We have short-sleeved t-shirts, long-sleeved hooded t-shirts, three styles of bags, and two sizes of posters. Click "Read More" for details on how you can get yours!

Schedule of Events

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Our class on loft was delightful! Dare I say our lofty ambitions were achieved?#fiber #handspun #wool #mdsw #mdsw2024 @mdsheepwoolfest ... See MoreSee Less
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Getting ready for the Maryland show...We packed the car so full that Gavin was sitting on the center console with his head out the sun roof. Luckily it was only from the shop to the farm to pack the trailer! These two handsome guys will be cashier's at the show. If you see them, say hi! ... See MoreSee Less
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Class entirely dedicated to making yarns that drape. Fantastic group! #mdsw #mds2024 #fiberarts #wool #drape @mdsheepwoolfest ... See MoreSee Less
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