A Day in the Life: Sheep Shearing & Fiber Arts Festival
Golden sunlight bathes the hills as your family arrives at Hidden Villa via the Foothill College shuttle. A breathtaking panorama of meadows and valleys frame the farm and guides your eyes toward the heart of the valley, to the stop just ahead on the winding road; Hidden Villa’s Sheep Shearing & Fiber Arts Festival.
As you arrive, friendly volunteers greet you at the welcome table. They smile warmly and invite you to scan a QR code to access the festival maps. They point out the day’s schedule and highlight recommended activities for families.
Your journey continues to the shearing station, where skilled hands transform woolly sheep into sleek, summer-ready animals. Children gather, fascinated by this age-old practice that connects us to the people and generations of the past. “The sheep actually look forward to their spring haircuts,” a shearer explains, palming the wool of one of our beloved sheep.
After watching the skilled shearer help our woolly friends prepare for warmer days, you and your family follow your curiosity, which leads you…
to the wool processing area where your family joins in carding wool with wooden paddles. The repetitive motion proves surprisingly meditative as you align fibers in preparation for spinning. Nearby, artisans demonstrate how twisted fiber becomes yarn on spinning wheels and drop spindles, offering mini-lessons that result in both laughter and hands-on learning.
By midday, delicious aromas from Roadside Rotisserie and Zaida’s Kitchen beckon. Your family finds the perfect spot on the Dana Center lawn as you settle on the blanket you packed. The rolling hills surround you as music drifts through the air and echoes in the valley. You take a bite of farm-fresh food and your taste buds ignite while the sun kisses your face. A barefoot child begins to dance to the music in the grass near you, smiling and free.
After lunch and a bit of entertainment, you explore the makers’ gallery where local artisans display their creations – each piece telling a story of creativity and craftsmanship.
“Did you know these natural fibers are better for the planet?” explains an artist you met at the gallery. This sparks a conversation about sustainability that will continue on the ride home and well into dinner.
The afternoon finds you in the makers’ lounge, where you and other visitors work on fiber projects like visible mending and natural dyeing while sharing time-tested techniques from across generations. Before departing, you treat yourselves to handcrafted ice cream from The Penny Ice Creamery – a sweet ending to a day of discovery. The Hidden Villa mint flavor marks the day as a memory you and your family won’t forget. Every time you eat mint ice cream, it will bring you fond memories of the family day at the Sheep Shearing and Fiber Arts Festival.
As the shuttle returns to Foothill College, your youngest clutches a small bundle of wool a remnant of the day’s activities, already planning future creations. Today you followed the journey from fleece to fabric but also strengthened the threads connecting your family to tradition and the natural world.
Event Details:
April 19th, 10am-3pm
$30 general admission, $15 equity pricing, Children under 4 free
Shuttle service from Foothill College (registration required)
For accessibility needs: [email protected]