Prepare For The Shears: Woolfest Is Back

It's hotter than a sauna on the sun and the sheep at Lake Metroparks Farmpark are ready for their annual shearing.

This means one thing -- !

This weekend, Farmpark visitors can discover first-hand how the hand-spun and woven products people enjoy are created from natural fibers, such as the fleece of farm animals.

Guests can follow the process as sheep, goats, alpacas, llamas, angoras and even rabbits at the park are sheared. Then they can try their hand at knitting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, and carding the wool.

The park will also have sheep herding, spinning, weaving and knitting demonstrations Saturday and Sunday.

Children can participate in special spinning and knitting classes, as well as other hands-on crafts.

Meanwhile, 40 vendors from across the Midwest will showcase their natural fiber products from the raw fiber to finished products and demonstrate spinning, loom weaving, knitting and more.

A complete list of vendors is available online on the Woolfest page at lakemetroparks.com.

The Fiber Art show, featuring works from the Western Reserve Rug Hookers Guild, showcases works of fine artistry in fiber arts and fiber textiles. Guests canvView nearly 200 pieces of fiber art, including knitted, crocheted, woven, and felted items as well as hand-hooked rugs.

Entries will be on display in the Visitor Center now through July 10. People’s Choice award in each category is based on votes by the public viewing the show.

Admission to Woolfest for ages 12 – 59 is $6; ages 60 and over, $5; ages 2 to 11, $4; Farmpark members and under 2 are free. A special two-day pass to the Woolfest festival is available for an additional $1 per person.

For more information about Woolfest visit lakemetroparks.com or call 440-256-2122 or 800-366-FARM (3276).

Due to the nature of the event, no pets are allowed on Farmpark grounds other than pre-registered animals for shows, classes or vendors.