Fibre Festival demonstration
Photo of a person using a yarn spinning machine with the words Fibre Festival

The type of festival you won’t want to miss

Fibre Festivals are popping up across Canada and it is fun for the whole family

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You’ve heard of music festivals, film festivals, and multi-cultural festivals… but what about fibre festivals?

These events are held across Canada to showcase the world of fibre and fibre production.

Much of the wool that is produced in Canada is sold to the Canadian Cooperative of Wool Growers who then sells it on the international market. However, there is another side of the industry that is dedicated to producing fibre and fibre-based products to be sold locally.

Often these producers are small farmers who, in addition to their other operations, will keep a flock of sheep or goats for fibre production. Sometimes these farmers will even manage a small mill right on their farm. The fibre they produce can be sold raw, as spun yarn, or in the form of a value-added product like rugs or clothing.

Though these products are often found at farmers markets or from a community knitting guild, local fibre festivals are the perfect place for all things wool!

Fibre Festivals are a hub for attendees to learn about fibre production, shop for local materials, and connect with local producers, suppliers, and artisans. These festivals are for community members and other producers alike, to purchase locally made products or to be inspired by fellow artisans.

In addition to a large group of vendors, many Fibre Festivals will host workshops that allow attendees to try their hand at a new fibre-related hobby without any commitment, such as knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, felting. It is the perfect place for those new to the world of fibre.  

For example, the upcoming Manitoba Fibre Festival will have volunteers from local craft clubs share finger weaving and machine knitting techniques as well as a demonstration from a professional sheep shearer.

These events are also a great place for current fibre artisans and those experienced in fibre production. Often, Fibre Festivals will have specific times or areas dedicated for fellow makers and producers to connect and work on their projects together.

The Memory Lane Fibre Arts Festival is an example of a festival that prioritizes time for the fibre community to meet up, ask questions, and create together. This festival is happening in Nova Scotia in October.

Whether you’d attend to visit the vendors, create with fellow makers, or enjoy the food and entertainment, fibre festivals are a fun and affordable activity for everyone while learning about a different side of agriculture.

Interested in finding a Fibre Festival near you? Check out Small Farm Canada’s curated list of fibre festivals across Canada: