Sheep Shearing Festival Arrives At Queens County Farm Museum

QUEENS — In yet another sign that spring has sprung, sheep at the Queens County Farm Museum will get their spring haircuts and New Yorkers will make a whole event out of it this weekend.

The farm will host the annual Sheep Shearing Festival on Saturday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for visitors to witness how the facility's flock of sheep get haircuts.

Shearing demonstrations will take place throughout the day, and tickets are $12 to $15, and free for ages 2 and under.

Sheep shearing is an important part of the farm lifecycle along with seasonal changes in the growing fields, according to Queens County Farm Museum.

Once the sheep are shorn, their fleece will be sent to Queens Farm’s longtime partner Battenkill Fibers, located in the Hudson Valley, where it will be processed and then returned to Queens County Farm Museum’s Farm Store in the form of spun, naturally dyed yarn.

At the event, visitors can interact with local fiber artisans featuring dyeing, spinning, weaving, and knitting with hands-on activities.