This festival is unlike any other festival in the entire country.
With ski resorts, and glitz and glamour, the wood river valley is known for its resort–style of culture. This weekend, its past has invaded with the 12
Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival. Linnea Collins, event director says “it connects us with our history. they say, there's an old adage, that how we treat our past, is how we'll live our future.” The 3 day event spans across the three towns, with dancers, traditional lamb meals, and presenters and vendors. Local residents say the festival helps keep them in touch with the past. Ivan Swaner, area historian says “the original spot that Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue was, from 1895 to the 1940s, the sheep kept the towns of Ketchum, Hailey, and Bellevue alive.” All the presenters and performers that are here today will lead the sheep in. And they'll do it right through Ketchum.
They’ve been doing that for over one hundred years. One hundred years. Sunday at noon down main street in Ketchum, an army of sheep will march through town, in an interesting juxtaposition of cultures from the past, and the present. Rick Palieri, performer says “you don't see anything like this. when you see the sheep come down in the middle of the main street and everybody celebrating this culture, it is quite something to experience.”