Lamb and Wool Festival comes to Kline Creek Farm

Visitors can discover how wool goes from sheep to the shop at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County's Lamb and Wool Festival.

The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21 and 22 at Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road in West Chicago.

Visitors can see how the 1890s living-history farm's sheep lose their winter coats by old-fashioned methods without electricity, including blade shears and 100-year-old hand-cranked shears.

They also can see how raw wool was scoured, carded and spun for use in knitting and quilting, along with demonstrations of quilting and other handwork.

And for those looking for a little faster action, there will be demonstrations of how herding dogs move the flock in a pasture.

The Lamb and Wool Festival is free for all ages. Activities and demonstrations will be taking place throughout the weekend.

Registration is not required. For details, call Kline Creek Farm at (630) 876-5900.

"This event showcases the Chicago area's history as a hub for the livestock industry in the late 19th century and provides a valuable historical perspective for visitors," forest preserve President Joe Cantore.

A true working farm, Kline Creek Farm has raised Southdown sheep since 1997, with much of the animals' year-round care provided by volunteers. Kline Creek Farm sheep have won several awards at county and state fairs.

Numerous lambs were born on the farm this spring, and visitors can see them in the sheep shed whenever the farm is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

Sheep were an important commodity to an 1890s farmer, providing income through the sale of wool and individual animals.

In the late 19th century, DuPage was home to many livestock operations, including the raising of sheep for meat and wool.

If you go

What: Lamb and Wool Festival

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21-22

Where: Kline Creek Farm, 1N600 County Farm Road, West Chicago

Cost: Free

Info: (630) 876-5900