We loved the annual Sheep & Wool Festival at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, MD…read more (May 2026)
We always watch the sheep-dog demo, which is presented several times. These working dogs dart around like lightning, guiding sheep through courses. It's amazing and charming.
And we love the live music on two stages, one sponsored by the Common Ground On The Hill. Among the variety of performances, we heard the Walt Michaels & Co. band, playing folk, bluegrass, and old-time Southern Appalachian music. Really fun to see.
The Sheep & Wool Festival had craft and skill demonstrations, competitions, classes and seminars, and many of the represented farms and ranches were happy to engage in conversations in the barns and tents. There were food booths and scheduled meals, including a focus on leg of lamb sandwiches, lamb specialties such as chops, burgers and ground lamb, sausages, kabob cubes, and sheep cheese, goat cheese, and honey. We were not overly exploratory, but we did bring home several soft cheeses.
You can still find their annual catalog online with the festival's programs and participants, spinning wheels, looms, animal-care equipment and supplies, fiber and crafts including other farmed animals (alpaca, angora, llama, mohair, yak, ...), wax and lanolin. There's pointers to related organizations and businesses, and mention of many similar upcoming events, including nearby musical and cultural events in May and June-July by the Common Ground On The Hill Maryland Folklife Center.
It was a lovely slightly-chilly day full of fun genuine one-of-a-kind of farm and cultural activities. All for under $15, and free under 18-tears-old. Plenty of parking. We're looking forward to 80th Annual Howard County Fair, Aug 8-15, 2026, at this same location :-)