Have a piece of agricultural life at the Queens County Farm Museum’s 13th Annual Sheep Shearing Festival.
Scheduled for Saturday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Glen Oaks, the city’s only sheep shearing event brings a springtime spectacle of wool, music and farm-fresh fun to Queens.
This year, professional shearer Donald Kading will demonstrate the essential art of sheep shearing, giving the farm’s sheep their seasonal haircuts. Visitors will have the chance to dive hands-on into the world of fiber arts, exploring techniques such as dyeing, spinning, weaving and knitting alongside local artisans.
The festival includes walking tours of the farm’s fields and historic structures, live performances by bands like Mojo and Mayhem and the Folk Music Society of New York and various educational and entertaining activities. These include a spring plant sale, colonial cooking demonstrations and the Con Edison Ecology booth, with its popular Adopt-a-Worm composting program. The farm’s antique tractor exhibit and a collection of local food vendors offer additional enjoyment for all ages.
Courtney Sartini, Director of Agriculture at Queens County Farm Museum, said the “Sheep Shearing Festival is a ‘shear’ delight. This time-honored tradition gives New Yorkers a unique opportunity to experience the rich heritage of wool production and get an inside perspective on the seasonality of farm life.”
Post-shearing, the wool is sent to Battenkill Fibers in the Hudson Valley for processing, later returning to the museum’s Farm Store as spun, naturally dyed yarn. This cycle not only supports local artisans, but also promotes sustainable fashion through regional production systems.
The Sheep Shearing Festival is part of Queens Farm’s extensive 2024 public programming, which includes events such as Milk and Honey Month in June, the 45th Annual Thunderbird American Indian Powwow in July and the Queens Agricultural Fair in October.
Tickets for the festival are priced between $12 and $15, with free entry for children under three. For further details and ticket purchases, visit queensfarm.ticketspice.com/sheep-shearing-festival.
