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New Yorkers, prepare to get fleeced—in the best way possible. The 14th Annual Sheep Shearing Festival returns to Queens County Farm Museum this Sunday, May 18, from 10am to 5pm, with a full day of agriculture, fiber arts and springtime fun for all ages.
This is the only sheep shearing festival in New York City, and it’s truly unlike anything else. The main event? Watching professional shearer Donald Kading give the farm’s wooliest residents their much-needed spring trims. More than just a haircut, shearing sheep is an essential health ritual that prevents overheating, mobility issues and skin conditions during the warmer months. Don’t worry, the sheep are treated humanely, and the entire process is quick and expertly handled.
But the fleece doesn’t go to waste either. Once shorn, the wool is sent to Battenkill Fibers in the Hudson Valley, where it’s cleaned, processed and spun into beautiful skeins of sustainable yarn that are available for purchase right at the farm’s shop. It’s a tactile lesson in local sourcing and the growing slow-fashion movement.
Live fiber arts demos throughout the day show off the magic of wool transformation: dyeing, carding, spinning, weaving, knitting—you name it. Kids (and kids at heart) can dive into it themselves with the Activity Passport, a $20 add-on that unlocks five hands-on crafts like clay pinch pots, yarn gnomes and sheep puppets made with real wool. It’s equal parts creative and educational.
Beyond the wool, there’s a full lineup of farm festivities: Animal Adventures tours with the farmers, hayrides, historic farmhouse visits and live music to keep the mood festive. Local vendors will be on-site slinging everything from seasonal eats to fresh lemonade.
“The Sheep Shearing Festival is a joyful reminder of the rhythms of farm life,” said David Hughes, Executive Director of Queens County Farm Museum. “This event connects visitors to the agricultural traditions that have shaped our past and continue to inspire our future.”
Admission to the farm grounds is free. Come for the shearing, stay for the sheep puppets—and leave with a deeper appreciation for the fiber arts that keep our city feeling just a little bit cozier.