Welcome!

Welcome all to the 53rd Annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!

After an unusually wintery winter here in Maryland, we are so looking forward to a wonderful event this May that will once again offer all the things that have brought thousands of people together for the past 52 years! We continue to honor this tradition while navigating today’s modern world, embracing and nurturing the wonderful community whose thirst for all things sheep and wool, old and new, is constantly evolving.

There is a particular phenomenon in the way the world works when a group of people find themselves drawn together around a shared passion: a special space, infused with comradery, creativity, and good cheer is created. The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is such a place, and we are mindful of nurturing and celebrating it as a happy place for all who find their way to it—whether first time or repeat visitors; volunteers offering time and talent; shepherds who proudly present their sheep or fleeces; vendors who provide us with both essentials and delights that inspire, enable, and sustain our shared love of sheep and wool. All of us, from near and far, are happy to immerse ourselves in the contagious positive energy generated by this phenomenon.

An essential part of the Festival’s mission is to connect teachers and curious learners together in order to sustain and renew this thousands-of-years-old multi-dimensional relationship between people and sheep. We bring you world class fiber arts instructors and sheep agricultural experts to share their knowledge. It is through their teaching that the history, traditions, and practical knowledge that sustain a deep appreciation for sheep and support for agriculture are carried forward. They provide the pathways for anyone, at any level, to step into this vibrant and generous community and discover their own happy place within it.

Beyond our formal classes and seminars, learning happens throughout the grounds—through questions and conversations at barns, under tents, and between friends both new and old. We encourage you to immerse yourself in this wonderfully generous and welcoming tradition and to be inspired to learn more.

Wherever you find yourself along the broad continuum of sheep or wool related endeavors, we hope our 2026 Festival brings a smile to your face, deepens your appreciation for sheep and wool, and leaves you inspired to return to this happy place again and again.

Lee Langstaff & Jeff White, Festival Co-Chairs