WoolFest Buckfastleigh Celebrates Heritage, Craft, and Community
A unique celebration of wool, heritage, and creativity will take place in Buckfastleigh on Sunday 24th May, as local partners come together for WoolFest – a free, family-friendly community event honouring the town’s historic roots as an ancient woollen centre.
Organised collaboratively by the Share Shed – A Library of Things, the Network of Wellbeing, and the Wool Hub, WoolFest invites visitors of all ages to explore traditional wool crafts, meet local makers, connect with sheep and alpacas, and discover the cultural and environmental importance of wool as a natural material.
The day of hands-on craft, heritage, and fun, will begin at 1pm with a Wool Walk, visiting key places in town that carries a lot of history; at 1.30pm, join us in the traditional sheep driving from the Globe Inn car park, and running from 2pm to 5pm, at Orchard Millennium Green in Buckfastleigh, WoolFest offers a vibrant programme of activities designed to entertain, educate, and inspire:
Visitors can meet the beloved Woolly Nanas and a local spinning group, learning first-hand about traditional spinning techniques and the enduring appeal of working with wool. For those keen to get involved, there will be opportunities to try spinning, weaving, and felting, offering hands-on experiences for beginners and craft enthusiasts alike.
There will also be demonstrations of sheep shearing, where visitors can learn about the care of sheep and the vital role they play in wool production, and friendly alpacas will also be on hand to meet throughout the event. Alongside the craft and animal experiences, visitors can enjoy talks and live music, exploring wool as a sustainable, renewable material with deep roots in the local landscape and economy.
The event also showcases the work of local initiatives supporting community resilience and wellbeing. The Share Shed – A Library of Things will be present, offering information about its affordable lending service, which enables people to borrow everyday items instead of buying them. The initiative also provides free annual memberships for low-income households, helping to make practical resources more accessible and reduce waste.
Refreshments will be available on site (cash only), and the event is fully accessible, family-friendly, and welcomes dogs on leads. Register here for free tickets: https://tinyurl.com/6v2xxzm5
The Wool Hub, one of the key organisers, is currently crowdfunding to support its ongoing work to revitalise wool skills and build a more sustainable future for wool in the region. You can support its campaign by visiting https://tinyurl.com/2fpry5mx