Rhinebeck’s Sheep & Wool Festival fills Dutchess fairgrounds Oct. 17 and 18

The New York State Sheep & Wool Festival returns to the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18. It brings two days of livestock, fiber crafts and fall food to the Hudson Valley.

Hundreds of shepherds, weavers, fiber artisans and independent yarn dyers set up in the fairground barns. The schedule includes livestock judging, spinning and herding dog demonstrations, and meet-and-greets with authors. The festival also holds its yearly Fleece Show & Sale, where judges rate raw wool from across the region before it is sold. Visitors can buy local cider and festival food, and plenty of them come wearing their best handmade sweaters.

Sheep and Wool Festival hours and tickets

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at 6636 Route 9 in Rhinebeck. Tickets cost $15 in the online presale or $18 at the gate, and children 11 and under get in free. Workshops before the festival run Oct. 15 and 16, and workshop registration includes festival admission.

Getting to Rhinebeck from NYC by train or car

Amtrak trains run from Moynihan Train Hall to Rhinecliff station along the Hudson River, and the trip takes roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes. A taxi or rideshare from the station to the fairgrounds takes about 10 minutes. Train seats often sell out on festival weekend, so book early.

Metro-North works too. Riders can board at Grand Central and stay on the Hudson Line up to Poughkeepsie, where a taxi or rideshare heading north covers the remaining distance to the fairgrounds in roughly 25 minutes.

Drivers can take the Taconic State Parkway to the Route 199 West exit toward Rhinebeck. They can also take the New York State Thruway (I-87) to Exit 19 in Kingston, then cross the Rhinecliff Bridge to Route 9G and Route 9. Expect about two hours from Manhattan, plus extra time for fall traffic near Rhinebeck.