Posted on: September 6, 2011
Idaho's Trailing of the Sheep Festival
Weekend-long festival features parades, workshops, cuisine, music and activities for the whole family
At the Trailing of the Sheep Parade, 1,500 sheep parade down Ketchum’s Main Street. // © 2010 Michael Edminster
The 15th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival will consist of an array of parades, fairs and exhibits and will feature live music, regional cuisine, workshops, stores and much more. This year’s festival honors women and their contributions to the development of Idaho and the west and will feature a women writers’ symposium. The event will take place in Ketchum and Hailey, Idaho on Oct. 7-9.
A highlight of the event is the Trailing of the Sheep Parade, in which 1,500 sheep parade down Ketchum’s Main Street alongside sheep ranching family members, herders, as well as dancers and musicians of Peruvian, Oinkari Basque and Polish Tatra origins.
This year the festival will be featuring a special culinary lamb feast that will be prepared by the region’s best chefs.
A number of workshops include, but are not limited to, learning how to cook with lamb, soap making, locker hooking, and Fiber Fest, workshops that teach the art of yarn, dyeing, spinning wheel, needle felting and more.
The Folklife Fair is another highlight that takes place on Saturday and features Peruvian musicians and dancers, Oinkari Basque dancers, live music, sheep shearing demonstrations and many activities for children.