About the Wool Festival

27th Annual will be held October 2 & 3, 2010

9am – 5pm on Saturday, 9am – 4pm on Sunday

KIT CARSON PARK, TAOS, NEW MEXICO

Immerse yourself in the more than 400 years of wool tradition as New Mexico, Colorado and Texas breeders and fiber artists celebrate the 27th year of the Taos Wool Festival on October 2 and 3.  Join us in Kit Carson Park for two days of family fun ~ a look at traditional and contemporary fiber artistry, an opportunity to get up close and personal with sheep, goats, rabbits, alpacas and llamas, and an invitation for kids to try their hand at a fiber project.

Don Juan Oñate first brought the sturdy churro sheep to the region in 1598 as a walking commissary and fiber source for his small group of settlers. The churros quickly became a major basis of subsistence for both these newcomers and the indigenous people. Generations later, wool growing and fiber artistry maintain their economic viability for the people of the mountains and valleys who have added new artistic techniques and exotic products to traditional wools.

The tents scattered around the center of the park are well worth a visit for those interested in the Fleece Show & Contest, Handspun Yarn Show & Contest, the Garment & Home Accessories Show & Contest and demonstrations of wool handling techniques.

The information booth, also among the central tents, is where you can find, not only information, but the official collectable Wool Festival T-Shirts and Canvas Bags.  These special shirts and bags are designed for each year of the festival and go quickly.

Keep the Wool Festival spirit all year-round by ordering souvenir WF Logo Items from our NEW Promo & Souvenirs page! Help fund the festival by purchasing these goodies!

On Sunday the Silent Auction will be held in a central tent. The auction is a major fundraiser for production of the Wool Festival and the items come both from our wonderful, generous vendors and other equally wonderful supporters of the Festival.

The “Fiber Critters Showcase” and two days of shearing demonstrations are both reminders that before the shawl wound its way around your shoulders, the hat graces your head, the blanket covered your bed or the rug your floor, there was a living, breathing fiber critter keeping warm with those fibers, which are renewed each year.  Now you have an opportunity to see various sheep breeds, angora goats that give us mohair fiber, alpacas, llamas and angora rabbits. Talk with breeders about the care and feeding of their animals… about an agricultural life style… and about what drew them to the fiber industry.

Do you need a break? Wend your way among the central tents and follow the delicious scents to delectable eats!  Lamb delicacies, vegetarian choices, goat cheese, cinnamon roasted almonds, cold drinks, hot coffee provide food for the body, while Taos musicians provide food for the soul.  Find a grassy spot for a seat and enjoy the passing activities.

Note:  Kit Carson Park is a public Town of Taos park that permits leashed dogs.  SO, your well-behaved, leashed dog will be allowed at the festival. Pick up after your pet is a must! If your pet becomes a distraction to the festival, you will be asked to remove your pet from the premises.

No entrance fee. Time:  9am – 5pm on Saturday and 9am – 4pm on Sunday