The week-long, annual Trailing of the Sheep Festivals goes down in Sun Valley, Ketchum and Hailey, Idaho. It celebrates the Wood River Valley’s sheep ranchers, its sheep ranching families, and the area’s sheep and wool industry. You’re here to experience and preserve the history and cultures of sheepherding in Idaho, the backbone of the region’s economy since the late 1800s, as well as the West. You’ll find a variety of cooking classes, farm-to-table dinners and talks at Trailing of the Sheep, as well as Wool Fest — a festival within the festival. There will be music and dance performances from the valley’s main ranching cultural traditions: Scottish, Basque and Peruvian. The Big Sheep Parade, held on Sunday, is when 1,500 sheep bumble down Ketchum’s Main Street, heralded by musicians and blessed by local religious leaders. It’s like a parting of a wooly sea.
Beyond the Big Sheep Parade and Wool Festival, the event will also include:
- National Qualifying Sheepdog Trials, which will host 80 border collies competing for awards
- Sheep Folklife Fair, which will host those Basque, Scottish, Polish, and Peruvian dancers and musicians
- Sheep Tales Gathering
- For Love of Lamb
- Lamb Fest
- lamb dinners
- sheep shearing demonstrations
- wool product vendors
- a closing party
- children’s activities and more.
The Specs
- In 2022, 25,000 people attended the five-day sheep ranching festival.
- Major events of the festival, including the Trailing of the Sheep, Folklife Fair, talks and exhibits, are free. Other activities require separate tickets (see the schedule and activity pricing here).
- Flying into Boise? Check out Fifty Grande’s guide to the city here.
FAQs
What is the closest airport to the Trailing of the Sheep Festival 2023?
In October for the festival, visitors can fly directly into Idaho’s Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), about 13 miles from the festival ground, on Delta, United, and Alaska. Otherwise, the closest airports are Boise, ID, USA (BOI, 2.5 hours and 150 miles southwest of Sun Valley), and Twin Falls, ID (TWF, 1.5 hours and 87 miles south).
Are dogs allowed?
No, please leave your pets at home. Sheep and herding dogs might view them as a threat.
Once I get to the festival, what’s the best way to get around?
If you don’t want to deal with traffic and parking, Mountain Rides Bus Service is your best bet — the festival events are spread throughout the towns of Ketchum, Sun Valley, and Hailey. The bus is free.
Who was John Peavey?
Peavey was the festival founder, a local rancher, and a former Idaho State Senator. He died on June 16, 2024.
What is Starry Starry Night?
Starry Starry Night was a fundraising event for the festival that was held on August 29 at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum, Idaho.