What should you know before going to the 2026 Trailing of the Sheep Festival?
The 30th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival runs October 7–11, 2026, with the Big Sheep Parade down Ketchum's Main Street on Sunday, October 11, at noon. Events are split between Ketchum and Hailey — the sheepdog trials and Folklife Fair are in Hailey, the lamb dine-around and parade are in Ketchum — so plan your drive between the two. The parade is free, and the best plan is to claim a curb spot early and keep your dog at home.
By Stevenson Real Estate Group | October 5, 2026
The sheep are coming down Main Street again. This year marks the festival's 30th anniversary, and organizers expect as many as 25,000 visitors over five days — which makes it one of the busiest weekends of the fall in the Wood River Valley, and one of the best.
If you've read our look at why 1,200 sheep walk down Ketchum's Main Street every October, you know the history. This is the practical version: what happens when, where to be, and how to spend a weekend like this if you're also quietly wondering what it would be like to live here.
Festival details are subject to change. Confirm times, tickets, and locations at trailingofthesheep.org before you head out.
The weekend, day by day
Friday, October 9
- Sheepdog Trials, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. — a national qualifying event with about 80 herding dogs, held at 2400 Buttercup Road in Hailey. Daily and weekend tickets are available.
- Sheep Ranching Q&A, 2:30–4 p.m. — a chance to ask the people who actually run the flocks.
- For the Love of Lamb, 4:30–5:30 p.m. — pop-up lamb dishes from restaurants around downtown Ketchum. The organizers' own advice: once the food is gone, it's gone, so arrive early.
- Sheep Tales Gathering, 7 p.m. — an evening of storytelling and Basque culinary heritage at the Argyros Performing Arts Center, with chef Dan Ansotegui.
Saturday, October 10
- Sheepdog Trials, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in Hailey.
- Folklife Fair & Lamb Fest, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. — free admission at Roberta McKercher Park in Hailey, with Basque, Scottish, and Peruvian dancers and musicians, shearing demonstrations, and more than 80 vendors.
- Wool Fest — 20-plus classes and workshops running October 8–10.
- Molly in the Mineshaft, 7:30 p.m. — the Saturday-night concert.
Sunday, October 11
- History of Sheepherding, 9:30–11 a.m.
- Sheepdog Trials, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Big Sheep Parade, noon — about 1,200 sheep from the Jaz Ranch, plus herders, historic sheep wagons, and Folklife Fair performers, all coming down Main Street in Ketchum. It's free to watch.
- Happy Trails Closing Party, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Ketchum Town Square.
Wednesday and Thursday are quieter, with the Festival Welcome Center, cooking classes, Farm to Table dinners, and the first Wool Fest workshops. If you only have one day, make it Saturday in Hailey followed by Sunday's parade.
How to watch the parade without getting in the sheep's way
The organizers are blunt about etiquette, and it's worth following. Stay on the curb at all times — if you step into the street, people further down the route can't see, and the sheep need to see an open road.
- Keep your voice low and avoid sudden movements.
- Leave your dog at home. Personal dogs aren't allowed along the route — the herd travels with working livestock guardian dogs.
- Keep children close to you.
- Photograph from the parade-route side only.
- Arrive early. In past years the crowd has stacked up many people deep along Main Street, and the parade has run late when the sheep set their own schedule.
After the parade, spectators are invited to walk alongside the herders as they guide the sheep south of town toward their winter pasture. It's a surprisingly quiet few minutes after all the noise.
If you're visiting from out of town: a festival weekend is a good test drive
Plenty of people who end up buying here first showed up for a weekend like this one. If you're thinking about a Wood River Valley purchase — a primary home, a second home, or something in between — the festival gives you an honest read on a few things a listing photo can't.
How the valley's towns connect. The weekend runs between Ketchum and Hailey, about a dozen miles apart on Highway 75. Drive it more than once, at different times of day. The state highway reconstruction between Elkhorn Road and River Street has been phasing lane and access closures, and the project timeline has slipped into 2027, so check the Idaho Transportation Department's current alerts before you plan tight timing. The commute you experience is the commute you'd live with, and our look at how SH-75 construction affects Sun Valley home sales covers what it means for buyers and sellers.
What the shoulder season feels like. October is quieter than July or February, and a festival weekend sits right on top of that quiet. If you're comparing seasons before committing, how a car-lite life in Ketchum really works is a useful companion read, and so is the Village's take on its own quiet season.
What a second home might cost. If you're weighing the valley against other mountain markets, we put the numbers side by side in Ketchum vs. Jackson Hole vs. Aspen.
One practical note if a purchase comes out of the trip: you don't have to be here to close. Remote and e-notary signings are routine through Pioneer Title, including mail-away signings for out-of-state buyers. As with any transaction, it's smart to talk with your own attorney and lender about how you'll hold title and finance the purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Trailing of the Sheep Festival in 2026?
The 30th annual festival runs October 7–11, 2026, with some early culinary events listed on October 6. The Big Sheep Parade is Sunday, October 11, at noon on Main Street in Ketchum.
Is the Big Sheep Parade free?
Yes. Watching the parade is free. You can optionally sponsor a sheep for $35 and receive a "One of the Herd" button, and some festival events — including the sheepdog trials, classes, and dinners — are ticketed.
Where are the sheepdog trials and the Folklife Fair?
The sheepdog trials are at 2400 Buttercup Road in Hailey, and the free Saturday Folklife Fair is at Roberta McKercher Park in Hailey. The parade, lamb dine-around, and closing party are in Ketchum.
Can I bring my dog to the parade?
No. Organizers ask that you leave personal dogs at home since the herd is accompanied by working livestock guardian dogs and the sheep spook easily.
Is a festival weekend a good time to look at homes in Sun Valley and Ketchum?
It can be. Downtown Ketchum will be busy, so schedule tours around festival hours. We're happy to build a viewing plan that works around the events.
See the valley beyond the parade
The festival is the best excuse of the fall to see Ketchum and Hailey in the same weekend. If you'd like to see a few homes while you're in town — or just talk through what a purchase here would look like — reach out anytime. We'll build a plan around the parade, not against it.
Image: Community Library
About Stevenson Real Estate Group
The Stevenson Group has decades of experience in Sun Valley, and use that historical knowledge to help long-time and new clients achieve their real estate goals. Selling everything from remote mountain lodges in the Sawtooths to luxury estates on the Big Wood River to starter homes in the South Valley, Gayle, Matt and team consistently get the job done like few other agents or teams in the market.
