Petaluma Hosts Annual Transhumance Festival with Sheep Parade

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The annual Transhumance Festival is taking place this Saturday in Petaluma, California, featuring a parade of sheep through the city streets. The festival aims to educate the public about land stewardship, soil health, and sustainable resource use through hands-on experiences and cultural celebration. Attendees can explore interactive stations, browse a local artisan marketplace, and watch demonstrations like sheep shearing and wool processing.

Why it matters

The Transhumance Festival connects residents to the working landscapes and animals that sustain the local environment. By blending tradition with education, the event invites the public to engage directly with the land and animals that are crucial to Petaluma's ecological health and resilience.

The details

The festival will kick off at 9 a.m. at the Petaluma Fairgrounds with breakfast burritos, a welcome speech, and livestock demonstrations. At 10:30 a.m., handlers will lead a flock of sheep out of the fairgrounds and down D Street in a moving demonstration of traditional herding practices, ending at Steamer Landing Park. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the waterfront park will host the main festival, where attendees can explore interactive educational stations, browse a local artisan marketplace, and watch demonstrations including sheep shearing, wool processing, weaving, spinning, and scything.

• The Transhumance Festival is happening this Saturday, April 12, 2026.
• The sheep herding procession will begin at around 10 a.m. and travel from the Petaluma Fairgrounds to Steamer Landing Park.
• The main festival activities at Steamer Landing Park will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.