Fleece & Fiber Animals Gather at Estes Park’s Wool Market - 05/30/2008

One of the largest and most respected fiber events in the nation will be June 14 and 15 in Estes Park. The weekend Wool Market is filled with sheep, llama, alpaca, sheep dog, cashmere and angora goat competitions, and fleece and fiber demonstrations and contests. More than 8,600 adults and children attended the free two-day event in 2007.

Wool Market is held at the Fairgrounds at Stanley Park off U.S. Highway 36 and Community Dr. Admission is free; parking is $3 per car. Gates are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 14 and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 15.

For the first time ever the National Colored Angora Goat Breeders and the National Blue Leicester Sheep Associations will be conducting sanctioned shows during the festival. In addition, the Incan royalty Paco-Vicuna alpacas, known as the finest fleeced animals in the world, will be returning for their second year of demonstrations and competitions.

Sheep dog herding demonstrations and sheep shearing demonstrations are conducted four times a day throughout the weekend. An announcer provides play-by-play explanations of the many herding and sheep shearing techniques used by these animals and their handlers.

The fiber festival also offers weavers and spinners an opportunity to show off their skills. Hand spun yarn contests demonstrating the use of different types of fibers, and fleece to shawl award ceremonies add creativity to the weekend competitions.

One of the most popular attractions for those of all ages attending Wool Market is the Children’s Tent. Youngsters always enjoy holding and petting the angora bunnies. Pet owners, spinners and weavers are on hand to teach the basics of caring for a fleece animal, on how to spin and weave with different types of fibers. Llama Limbo and Leaping Llama Games on Saturday is another event that will educate and entertain.

Shopping at the Wool Market is a fiber lover’s dream. More than 50 booths are filled with raw fibers, fleeces, naturally dyed yarns, novelty knitting and crocheting yarns as well as finished fiber coats, scarves, hats, shawls, processing equipment, spinning wheels and looms in all shapes and sizes.