Filed under: Activities & Attractions, Family Camping, Family Day Trips

Fabulous Fall Camping Activities–Part 3: The Wool Festival at Taos

I have been profiling fun festivals and celebrations to attend when out camping and enjoying the beautiful fall weather. Another event not to be missed when out enjoying the beautiful fall camping weather is the premier fall festival in Taos, NM, The Wool Festival at Taos. Attended by people from all over North America, this festival boasts the finest collection of wool and wool-related products around. Celebrating its 29^th year in 2012, it has been described as an outstanding regional wool market, featuring juried vendors displaying their wool fiber, yarns, and artistic creations.

Taos, NM is a town of about 7000 people but boasts a greater variety of fall festivals and celebrations than many much larger communities. The Taos Fall Arts Festival and Competition is one very popular event, but there are also the Art Studio Tours in Taos, Taos Canyon, nearby Pilar and numerous other surrounding communities. The Wool Festival is billed as the premier fall festival even among that competition.

Terry and I were able to attend this even for the first time this year and ran into more than a dozen separate groups of people from Canada who had come to Taos for this event. There were numerous demonstrations of sheep shearing, spinning, dyeing, spinning and other wool related skills. There were competitions in hand spinning wool and fleece and finished products.

Animals producing this wool are also a welcome part of the event. We saw sheep from the Taos Pueblo, as well as a variety of wool producing alpacas and llamas in pens around the grounds. Goats and angora rabbits attended as well. More than 50 booths occupied Kit Carson Park in the center of town carrying a greater variety of yarn and yarn products than I have ever seen in one location at one time.

Walking through the grounds was a very pleasant experience due to the combination of animals, wool and wool demonstrations, as well as the variety of folksingers providing music and entertainment over the two day event. There was also a silent auction at which guests would bit on varied and lovely wool and wool items. This is another entirely family friendly event that would make a terrific fall destination camping event.

The Taos area has numerous terrific RV parks and campgrounds, a number of which have been profiled in this blog in months and years past. To find your camping destination when attending these fabulous fall activities,browse Woodall’s listings of New Mexico Campgrounds.

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