Oxford Historical Society Schedules Fiber Festival on April 12, 13

The Oxford Historical Society's 7th Annual Fiber Festival will be held Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 13, from 1 - 4 p.m. The event will take place at the Twitchell-Rowland homestead, 60 Towner Lane, in Oxford. Towner Lane is off Route 67, across from St. Thomas Church.

Featured events at the 2025 event include the New England Lace Group creating bobbin lace on both days of the festival. There will be four demonstrations of Pygora goat shearing by Ron East. Jody Bishel will show her freeform crocheting techniques to visitors. The museum will offer an exhibit of textiles and embroidery.

The Oxford Historical Society is seeking volunteer fiber arts crafts persons to take part in the event. Spinners, weavers, felters and others may contact chairperson Valerie Nelson at valvroom@hotmail.com In addition, knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, rug hookers and spinners are invited to drop in to demonstrate their crafts. There will be no charge for exhibitors and demonstrators may offer their handmade fiber creations for sale. Suggestions for names of others who might be interested in participating are welcome.

The festival commemorates Oxford's early industrial and agricultural history. In 1802, David Humphreys purchased 100 Spanish merino sheep and on April 10, shipped them to his homestead in Derby, Connecticut. He was the first successful American importer of merino sheep, known for their excellent wool. The new breed of sheep changed the agriculture and economy of Oxford and the entire Naugatuck Valley.

For further information, contact valvroom@hotmail.com