FORT GARLAND – Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center will host its second annual fiber festival, From Land to Hand: Fiber Arts in the San Luis Valley. This festival is a celebration of all things fiber and every step of the creative process, from sheep to shawl. There will be both educational demonstrations and a fiber arts marketplace. The festival will last the whole weekend, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 22 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. All events will be hosted on the grounds of the Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center at 29477 Highway 159, Fort Garland.

The San Luis Valley has a long and storied history of fiber arts. Many of the earliest settlers to the Valley and the surrounding region were shepherds, and both sheep and goats remain a vital part of the area’s culture, heritage, and economy.

The From Land to Hand festival is a continuation of this tradition, and celebrates not only the historical arts of fiber crafting- including spinning, dyeing, weaving, and knitting- but also provides an opportunity for regional artisans and merchants to gather, share their skills, display their work, and sell their products.

Throughout both days of the festival there will be workshops hosted by local artists. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the fiber arts from artisans who love their craft. Skills on display include all steps of the process, from gathering wool all the way to creating textiles and items of clothing. There will also be an open-air market where regional vendors will sell supplies for burgeoning creators as well as some of the area’s most beautiful fiber works. Food carts with a wide selection of food will also be at the festival. There will also be a series of performances by local musicians.

Admission to the festival is free with museum admission which is $5 for adults. Members of History Colorado, the Friends of Fort Garland, as well as active duty military and their families, enter free. Children ages 18 and under receive free admission all summer.