The Fall Fiber Festival & Montpelier Sheep Dog Trials returned to Orange County on October 4–5, drawing makers, shepherds, and families to the rolling fields across from James Madison’s Montpelier. The two-day celebration highlighted every step of the fiber journey—sheep to shawl—while showcasing the festival’s signature competitive sheep dog trials.

Visitors found an immersive schedule: continuous craft demonstrations in spinning, weaving, and fiber preparation; live sheep shearing; fiber-animal exhibits; and a bustling vendor midway stocked with fleeces, yarn, tools, and handmade textiles. Kids dove into hands-on workshops (yes, even needle-felting a pumpkin or a sheep), while adults signed up for technique classes and a free spindle session with artisan spinner Cynthia Haney.

Special programming added depth. The Louisa County Historical Society’s “Fiber Through the Ages” traced how spinning and weaving evolved; author-educators Cindy Conner and Dr. Melinda McCall signed books and led talks on homegrown flax, cotton, and rural veterinary life; and dancers from the Blue Ridge Irish Music School brought a lively performance to the Gathering Tent.

This year’s trials fielded the full slate of competitions—a point of pride for organizers and handlers who consider Montpelier Station one of the most scenic backdrops in the Mid-Atlantic. Spectators lined the fence to watch dogs tackle precise outruns and steady pen work as seasoned judges tallied points.
With its modest $10 admission fee (kids 16 and under free), the festival once again struck a family-friendly balance of education and entertainment—from fleece judging and the silent auction to hearty fare from regional food trucks. The pastoral setting off Route 20 framed a weekend that felt equal parts county fair, craft school, and field trial showcase.

If you missed it, mark your calendar: the Fall Fiber Festival keeps its long-standing spot on the first full weekend of October at Montpelier Station. Learn more at fallfiberfestival.org.