Greencastle Wool Show

The Greencastle Wool Show is an annual fiber arts festival held at the Putnam County Fairgrounds in Greencastle, Indiana, celebrating all things related to wool and fiber arts. It features a wide selection of vendors offering yarns, spinning fibers, and fiber equipment, along with workshops, demonstrations, competitions, and handmade goods focused on fiber crafts.

Surrounding Area and Vibe

The event is hosted in Greencastle, a city within Putnam County, Indiana, known for its friendly community and rural charm. The Putnam County Fairgrounds provide a spacious, accessible venue with free parking and admission, facilitating a welcoming and community-oriented atmosphere. The vibe is craft-focused, creative, and educational, attracting both fiber enthusiasts and newcomers interested in wool arts. The fairgrounds host various buildings such as the Indoor Arena and the Farm Bureau Building, near agricultural areas like the dairy barn, emphasizing the show’s connection to traditional wool and farming culture.

Event Activities and Features

• Vendors: A wide variety of vendors sell yarns, spinning fibers, fiber equipment, and handmade fiber goods.

• Workshops and Demonstrations: Educational sessions teaching spinning, weaving, dyeing, and other fiber arts techniques, open to all skill levels.

• Competitions: The show hosts several competitions including:

  • Wool, Skein, and Garment Competition held in the Indoor Arena (Farm Bureau Building), with entries submitted on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.
  • Sheep to Shawl Competition, a team-based, timed event where teams create shawls from raw wool, judged on criteria like consistency, tension, style, and fiber use. Teams pay an entry fee, and winners receive ribbons; shawls are auctioned off for fundraising.

• Fiber and Friends Social: An evening social event on April 11th from 6 pm to 8 pm encourages community interaction among attendees and fiber artists.

Rough Schedule (2025)

• Friday, April 11, 2025

  • 10:00 am to 5:00 pm: General show hours with vendor booths, workshops, and demonstrations.
  • 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Competition entry submissions for Wool, Skein, and Garment competitions.
  • 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Fiber and Friends social event.

• Saturday, April 12, 2025

  • 9:00 am to 4:00 pm: Continued show activities including vendors, workshops, and competitions.
  • 9:00 am to 1:00 pm: Sheep to Shawl competition entry submissions and event.
  • 9:00 am to 12:00 pm: Additional competition entries accepted.

History and Founding

While the detailed founding history is not extensively documented in available sources, the Greencastle Wool Show has become a celebrated annual event in the Indiana fiber arts community. Its setting at the Putnam County Fairgrounds ties it to a tradition of agricultural fairs and craft shows common in rural Indiana, emphasizing local wool production and fiber arts. The event grew to include competitions, workshops, vendor areas, and social gatherings, reflecting a vibrant community dedicated to preserving and celebrating fiber crafts.

Accessibility and Facilities

• The venue is handicapped accessible, providing ease of access to all visitors.
• The Indoor Arena where competitions occur has no climate control, concrete floors, and limited electrical outlets, meaning some modern spinning equipment (e-spinners) cannot be used in competitions.
• Restroom facilities are limited onsite; portable toilets are typically provided.

The Greencastle Wool Show is an engaging, comprehensive event for anyone interested in fiber arts, from beginners to experienced artisans, combining traditional wool crafts with community and education in a rural Indiana setting.