Sheep shearing, one of the showier examples of farming life at Bellevue's Kelsey Creek Park, takes center stage Saturday, April 30 from 11 am-4 pm. The annual sheep shearing event will also feature a variety of fun farm events, including spinning demonstrations, sheep herding demonstrations, hands on activities by Eastside Heritage Center, tractor pulled hay rides, pony rides, food and more!
Free Activities:
o Sheep shearing demonstration
o Sheep herding by Brian Ricards
o Fiber craft demonstrations by the NWRSA Spinners
o Hands on activities by the Eastside Heritage Center
o Tractor-pulled hay rides by NW Vintage Tractor Club
o 4-H & Kelsey Creek Farm animal exhibits
o Chelsea Farms Alpacas
Activities with nominal fees:
o Pony rides
o Local honey
o Food & drinks
Admission is free. Many activities are free, some have nominal fees. Food is also available for purchase. Cash only. No ATM is available on-site. Pets not allowed in barnyard area. Parking is very limited onsite, shuttles available from Bannerwood Sports Park and Wilburton Park and Ride.
The shearing of the sheep is a traditional farm practice to gather wool for a variety of textiles. Each sheep produces from six to 10 pounds of wool each year. Called "Wild'n'Woolly" for a few years, the sheep shearing event originated in the early '90s, as the crowds coming each spring to watch the sheep being shorn of their winter coats kept growing.
