The Museum of Appalachia will welcome the warmth of spring by trimming the winter’s heavy growth of wool from their flock of sheep. Visitors are invited to join the Smithsonian-Affiliate museum in celebration of this pioneer tradition on Saturday, May 1.
Sheep Shearing Day will include demonstrations of shearing, carding, spinning, and weaving the fleece into woven goods, plus real-life examples of some of the many finished products derived from the wool.
Family-friendly activities will include sheep herding, Appalachian music, an animal meet & greet, and historic demonstrations like beekeeping, saw milling, and blacksmithing.
Admission includes a tour of the Museum farm and village, which contains some three-dozen historic log structures, exhibit halls filled with thousands of Appalachian artifacts, working gardens, and farm animals.
Tickets are available for purchase at museumofappalachia.org. Admission rates for this event are $15 for adults, $6 for kids (ages 5-12), and $42 for families.
Special group rates are available. School groups, homeschool organizations and groups of 20 or more can make reservations by contacting Stephanie Josey at stephaniejosey@museumofappalachia.org
The museum is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, at Exit 122. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with extended hours on weekends.