Business & Tech

Five Things to Know About Sheep Shearing Today

Head on down to the Common for a day of wooly fun.

Today, many will flock to the Town Common for the 40th Annual Sheep Shearing Festival, presented by the North Andover Festival Committee.

Sheep shearing is a tradition in town, due to the town's history in the textile industry. The Sheep Shearing Festival started 40 years ago as a way to celebrate the textile industry in the srping, when sheep are shorn. Today, it is a way to celebrate the town in general, while offering sheep herders sheering, vaccinations, a venue at which to display their animals and other benefits.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you head over there.

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1. Where and When: The Sheep Shearing Festival will be at the Town Common from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sheep shearing demonstrations will be held throughout the morning as well as later in the afternoon, after Cow Pie Bingo. Admission to the festival is free.

2. Parking: The traffic and parking along the Common are going to be insane. There will be parking available at and where people can pick up the free shuttle bus to the Common.

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3. Stuff to Do: There will be lots of activities for the whole family throughout the day, including sheep shearing demonstrations, herding demonstrations with the sheep and dogs, pony rides, food, hayrides and more.

4. Unofficial Mayor Inauguration: In Patch's Unofficial Mayor Contest, readers chose Terry Holland, owner of who volunteers tirelessly for the town. There will be an Unofficial Inauguration at the stage at 12:30 p.m. with special guests, unofficially presided over by Town Moderator Mark DiSalvo.

5. Cow Pie Bingo: At 1 p.m., there will bethe much anticipated Squares have been drawn on the field. And at 1 p.m., Hanna the Holstein from Roche Farm will head out onto the field to "do her business." If she does her business on your square, you win $1,000. But hey, no pressure, Hannah.


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