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Annual Sheep to Shawl Festival, A Favorite Family Event
Springtime is a busy time of year for everyone – gardeners start tending their flowers, spring cleaning begins in earnest, and everyone feels recharged with the promise of longer, and warmer, days. For the Huntington Historical Society, this time of renewed activity heralds the return of its fun, family-oriented events which highlight the lifestyles, arts, crafts and traditions of historic Huntington. And for more than 20 years, the Society has kicked off the spring season with its popular “Sheep to Shawl” Festival on the grounds of the Dr. Daniel W. Kissam House Museum property at 434 Park Avenue in Huntington.
The Town of Huntington’s Tulip Festival is also held on the same day. Free shuttle buses will be available to take visitors between the two events. For more information about the “Sheep to Shawl” Festival or the Huntington Historical Society, please call 427-7045, ext. 401. |
Held
on the first Sunday in May, from 12 to 4 pm, (
Kids
love the traditional games, face painting, story telling, old
fashioned crafts and finding clues to past lives in the Kid's Archaeology dig.
Children are also thrilled to meet, feed and pet barnyard animals and ride a
pony.
The main highlights of the festival are the live sheep shearing
demonstrations. For early Americans, shearing a sheep was hard work. Sheep
could weigh anywhere from 150 to 300 pounds and a colonist who was shearing the
sheep would have to wrestle the sheep to the ground and then hold it still while
he cut off the fleece with a hand shearer, a simple tool that resembled a modern
grass clipper. The fleece needed to be cut close to the skin and the shearer
had to work downward and outward so he could see where he was cutting next, thus
ensuring that the fibers would be long for spinning into wool. This process is
extremely interesting to watch, and onlookers at the Festival come away with
a renewed
appreciation for the early colonists and their everyday chores and
activities. 
Many
craft guilds on Long Island have representatives demonstrating their skills
and assisting visitors in trying their hand at spinning, quilt
making, embroidery, lace making, basket weaving, knitting and crocheting.
Throughout the “Sheep to Shawl”
event, docents will share the history of the 1795 Dr. Daniel W. Kissam House and
Costumes from the Society's extensive collection will be on display in room
settings. Adding to the festivities is traditional music,
refreshments and souvenirs. Not to be missed is the newly-renovated
Museum Shop with its many treasures, collectibles and antiques.
Also the