It all started when neighbors would come to watch sheep shearing at Kelsey Creek Farm in Bellevue. Each spring, more and more people started showing up to watch the little farm in the city perform this annual farm task. Eventually, so many people were coming to watch that, just over 30 years ago, the farm turned Sheep Shearing into an annual community event.
And now, this free community event on April 25, 2026 draws crowds of up to 4,500, as families flock to get a taste of farm life in an urban setting. After all, supervisor Annamarie Solomonson points out, where else can you experience a slice of country life around the Seattle area without driving out to the country?
The Event
Sheep Shearing at Kelsey Creek Farm is so much more than just watching sheep get shorn; it’s a spring farm festival of sorts. Food vendors, the 4-H club, pony and tractor rides, bee demonstrations, and various community information and resources are among the activities available at the event. Additionally, families can see other farm animals on display, play at the playground, or walk around the trails on the expansive, 150-acre property…