Weavers and spinners work the wool to the live music of the Otter Brothers Band

Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20


Brooklyn, NY-May 12, 2011- The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo is hosting its 18th annual Fleece Fest celebration featuring live shearing of the zoo’s sheep and alpacas on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20.

“This year promises to be another fun-filled event for all ages. The Prospect Park Zoo’s sheep and alpacas will be helped out of their winter coats by expert sheep shearer Don Kading. Local artisans will demonstrate wool working, and the Otter Brothers will entertain the crowd with their variety of live country music,” said Prospect Park Zoo Director Denise McClean.

Attendees will learn from experts about processing wool and will have an opportunity to ask questions before the animals receive their annual haircuts. Everyone will learn the art of felt making, finger knitting, and more.

Fleece Fest at WCS’s Prospect Park Zoo
Saturday, May 19, and Sunday, May 20
  • 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.: Sheep-themed arts and crafts in Animals in Art area
  • 12 – 4 p.m.: Wooly Wonders at the barn: weaving, felt making, and games
  • 2 - 5 p.m.: Barnyard Hoedown: Live country music by the Otter Brothers
  • 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.: Sheep Shearing at the barn
  • 11:30 a.m., 2, and 4 p.m.: Sea Lion Feedings
After seeing the sheep get sheared, guests are invited to walk next door to Leffert’s Historic House and try your hand at washing, carding, spinning and weaving wool into cloth. Hand stamps will be required for re-entry into the zoo from Leffert’s.

For more information please visit www.prospectparkzoo.com

 CONTACT:
Max Pulsinelli: 718-220-5182; mpulsinelli@wcs.org
Steve Fairchild: 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo – $8.00 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. weekdays, and to 5:30 P.M. on weekends and holidays, April through October. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March. The Prospect Park Zoo is located at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. For further information, call 718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on earth.