The warm weather has finally arrived, which means it’s time for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo annual Sheep Shearing events, May 3-4. This fleece-filled weekend of fun will feature live wool-processing demos, music, arts-and-crafts, and of course, the zoos’ wild and wooly sheep.
The highlight of the weekend will be watching the shearers in action. Zoo-goers will get a sheep’s-eye view of the process as the zoo’s sheep and alpacas are helped out of their winter wear, by expert shearer, Don Kading. At 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., both days, as the animals get their stylish new look, professional shearers will guide visitors through the shearing step-by-step, while local artists discuss the many uses of wool.
Other Fleece Festival activities include, from 12-4 p.m.:
–Baaaing to the Beat: Listen up for some good old-fashioned country. It’ll be a toe-tappin’ barnyard hoedown New York City-style as visitors tune in to the live music of country singer Mary Lamont.
–Wooly Wonders at the Barn: Meet local artists as they teach visitors wool carding, finger-knitting, and other artistic techniques.
–Get Crafty: Kids can celebrate sheep by making their very own headband adorned with sheep cut-outs.
–Hands-On Science Activities: Stop by the Sea Lion Court to learn more about animals through fun games and activities including the Primate Challenge and Sense Like an Animal, led by SPARKS, a local science education program.
–Keeper Chats: While in the Barn area, stay for a Cotswald sheep chat at 11 a.m. and visit the Discovery Trail for a river otter chat at 3 p.m., both days.
After all that sheep celebrating, zoo-goers can head to Prospect Park’s Children’s Corner on Flatbush Avenue, to visit Brooklyn Public Library’s Kidsmobile on Sunday and the Lefferts Historic House for their annual Flax and Fleece Fest, 1-4 p.m., both days.
The Fleece Festival is free with regular zoo admission: $6 for adults, $2.25 for seniors 65 and older, $1 for kids 3-12 and free for children under three.
The Prospect Park Zoo is at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park. For information, call 718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.
