Have A Lambtastic Weekend At Idaho's Trailing Of The Sheep

KETCHUM, HAILEY and SUN VALLEY, Idaho, Aug. 18, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The best in American Lamb will be showcased at various "lambtastic" events held during the 18th annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival, held October 9 – 12, 2014 in the picturesque Wood River Valley of Idaho. Foodies will delight in the many special culinary lamb events, including For the Love of Lamb Foodie Fest, Cooking with Lamb classes, lamb specials at local restaurants, a Lamb Feast, and an authentic Lamb BBQ, that are planned as part of the internationally recognized Festival, which provides a weekend of history, culture and hands-on learning about a very unique and authentic slice of the American West.

Every year the popular Trailing of the Sheep Festival celebrates the century and a half long tradition of moving sheep from mountain summer pastures south through the Wood River Valley to traditional winter grazing and lambing areas. This annual migration is Idaho living history and a weekend long festival that highlights the people, arts, cultures, and traditions of sheep ranching in Idaho and the west.  This is not a reenactment; it is living history at its best.

The Trailing of the Sheep Festival has garnered its share of top accolades including being recognized as one of the Top Ten Fall Festivals in the World by msn.com travel, Top Ten US Fall Festivals by smartertravel.com, Top Animal Festivals in the World  and Top Ten Fall Festivals by USA Today, One of the Greatest Cultural Events in the West by Northwest Travel and is the recipient of the Idaho Governor's Award for Cultural Heritage.

One of the "lambtastic" highlights is the annual For the Love of Lamb Foodie Fest featuring some of the area's finest chefs and restaurants.  Friday evening is filled with free lamb tastings - while they last – which is sometimes not very long.  Thousands of people fill the streets of Ketchum to sample unique preparations of lamb, from tasty lamb sliders and ribs, to spicy lamb stew and strudel.

LAMBTASTIC CULINARY EVENTS

Cooking with Lamb Classes will feature hands-on learning from top local area chefs.  Scott Mason, of Enoteca, Chris Kastner of CK's Real Food, and Tom Nickel of the Sawtooth Club have all agreed to create a Cooking with Lamb class for the Festival.  Scott, Tom and Chris are known for their amazing culinary skills and use of local natural foods.  Friday afternoon, Chef Felix Gonzalez will share Basque recipes and stories from his Basque father who came here from Spain in 1954.  A pairing wine with lamb class is being planned with a local chef and sommelier.

For the Love of Lamb Foodie Fest will take place in association with local restaurants and chefs on Friday, October 10 starting at 5:00 pm.  Free Lamb tastings will be featured at seven local Ketchum restaurants and venues with famous local chefs and restaurants presenting their best lamb recipes. Restaurants and chefs included so far in this event include: Boca, Chef Tim Filgate, Cornerstone Bar & Grill, Cristina's, Enoteca, Sawtooth Club and Vintage Restaurant.  Competition, awards and a People's Choice afterwards.  Not to be missed, the free event starts at 6:30 pm at the NexStage Theatre in Ketchum.

A Lamb Feast will take place on Saturday, October 11 during the Sheep Folklife Fair.  Six chefs will be preparing the best in lamb and Basque food for lunch.  All proceeds go to support the Festival.  Chefs include Chris Kastner of CK's Real Food, di Vine, Muleshoe, Kelle Havens, Seasons and South Valley Pizzeria will also be serving lunch.  Lava Lake Lamb will be grilling ribs and several other chefs will offer lamb specialties.

Sunday, October 12, before and after the Parade, Festival Board members and ranchers are hosting an Authentic Lamb Barbecue as a fundraiser for the Festival.  11:00 am – 2:00 pm.  Music by Gary and Cindy Braun.

And dozens of the finest local restaurants feature American Lamb specials all weekend long.  

18TH Annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival 2014 – Celebrating Generations

2014 marks the 18th year of the annual Trailing of the Sheep Festival.  The four-day event includes nonstop activities in multiple venues.  In 2014, the Festival begins a three-year program "Celebrating Generations." We listen, learn, share and save the memories of our western families – dreamers, all of them, who live and work the land and are the keepers of open space.   Ranching families will be attending from around the west to share their stories and help trail the sheep through Ketchum.  The weekend also includes history, folk and traditional arts, a Folklife Fair and Fiber Festival with classes and workshops, music, dance, storytelling and two days of Championship Sheepdog Trials.  There is dancing, singing, music and food honoring the tradition of welcoming fathers, brothers, sons and family home from a long summer of grazing in the mountains.  This Festival honors the colorful history, heritage and cultures of Idaho and the west.

2014 Highlights include:

• Authentic Sheep Folklife Fair featuring Basque, Scottish Polish and Peruvian dancers and music, sheep shearing, sheep wagon displays, storytelling sessions, sheep and wool exhibits, and shops classes, children's activities and lamb created by local chefs.
• Culinary events like Cooking with Idaho Lamb classes, For the Love of Lamb Foodie Fest, Lamb Feast and an authentic Lamb barbecue.    
• SheepTales Gathering featuring Hank Volger and other renowned storytellers
• Fiber Festival with classes, workshops, fleece competition, exhibits and special lectures.
• Wool show and fleece competition including exhibits and free presentations
• Championship Sheepdog Trials with 50 of the most talented border collies in the U.S.
• Sheepherder's Ball with the sizzling Hot Club of Cowtown, named the best music group of 2012 by True West magazine.
• Trailing of the Sheep Parade starring 2,000 sheep trailing down Main Street Ketchum.  It's a wall of wool!  Plus sheep wagons, ethnic dancers and musicians and Father Ken "blessing the flock" of sheep.

For information and detailed schedule of events, www.trailingofthesheep.org

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=27144

Laurie McConnell Idaho Tourism 208-287-0781 laurie(dot)mcconnell(at)tourism(dot)idaho(dot)gov