Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials And Dog Festival

What better way to wrap up the fall season than with your canine pal and several hundred of their new best friends? Bring your family, friends, and dog (or dogs) to the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival November 12th and 13th for one of the area’s best known dog events, now in its twenty-fourth year! No other dog festival in the area can offer more fun or variety! 

Don’t miss a thing! National Border Collie Shepherding Championships, Carolina Dock Dogs, Canine Agility Club Competitions and more will be held over the two day event! Also on hand: NC Beer and Wine, Heritage Breed Livestock, Hay Rides, Historic Craft and Cooking Demonstrations, Food Vendors, Shopping, Nature Trails, Living History, Pumpkin Chunkin’, and much much more!

And Dog Sports demonstrations featuring the Greater Charlotte Shetland Sheepdog Club and others! Also on hand will be North Carolina beer and wine, heritage breed livestock, hay rides, historic craft and cooking demos, food vendors, shopping, open trails, antique tractors, living history demonstrations in the 1760’s cabin, pumpkin chunkin’, corn launchin’, kid’s activities, and much more!

Tickets are available online as well as on site both days. This event will not sell out.


Celebrating more than 250 years in history…Rural Hill is the former homestead of Major John and Violet Davidson. The 265-acre site is maintained and promoted by Historic Rural Hill Inc. and features annual events such as the Loch Norman Highland Games, the Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze, the Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials, and the NC Brewers and Music Festival. Historic Rural Hill Inc. is a non-profit organization supported through membership and donations, and with proceeds from its events utilized for the preservation of Historic Rural Hill and its education efforts. For more information on events or for financial support accepted securely online, please visit www.ruralhill.net.