Published April 13 2023
Ewe won’t want to miss Bellevue’s annual Sheep Shearing celebration on Saturday, April 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Kelsey Creek Park, 410 130th Pl. SE, rain or shine.
Activities will include spinning demonstrations, children’s crafts, tractor-pulled wagon rides, pony rides, heritage displays, animal viewing and food.
The event originated in the early 1990s, when ever-increasing crowds gathered at Kelsey Creek Park each spring to watch the sheep being shorn of their winter coats, a traditional farm practice. Each sheep produces from six to 10 pounds of wool each year.
The annual sheep shearing at the farm draws on a 5,500-year-old tradition that originated in Central Asia. Sheep shearing started in 3,500 B.C. when people learned to spin wool to make clothing and items like blankets.
Admission is free, with a charge for food and some activities. No ATM is available on-site. Free parking and shuttle service is available from the Wilburton park-and-ride lot, 720 114th Ave. SE, and Bannerwood Sports Park, 1790 Richards Rd.