The Museum of Appalachia will welcome the warmth of spring by trimming the winter’s heavy growth of wool from its flock of sheep. Students and families are invited to join the museum in celebration of this pioneer tradition on Thursday and Friday, April 11-12, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sheep Shearing Days will include demonstrations of shearing, carding, spinning and weaving the fleece into woven goods, and illustrations of some of the many finished products derived from the wool. Visitors will also enjoy sheep herding, Appalachian music, children’s games, an animal meet-and-greet, storytelling, a threshing machine, and several historic demonstrations, including beekeeping, sawmilling, blacksmithing, pioneer gardening and dulcimer lessons.
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.
School groups, homeschool organizations and other educational groups are welcome to attend. Contact Courtney Beard at 865-494-7680 or e-mail courtneybeard@museumofappalachia.org.
For adult and senior groups of 20 or more, please call Jennifer Johnsey at 865-494-7680 or e-mail jenniferjohnsey@museumofappalachia.org to make a reservation.
The museum is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of Interstate 75 off exit 122. The Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended hours on weekends.