TOPSHAM — More than 45 fiber destinations across Maine will open to the public for a Fiber Arts Tour Weekend on Aug. 5-7. 

This three-day event, put on by the statewide nonprofit Maine Fiberarts, offers a chance to visit working studios and farms. Every day, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., visitors can  take part in demonstrations, workshops, studio tours, children’s crafts and farm living.

Sites on the tour include a new yarn shop in Millinocket, a Pygora goat farm in Argyle Township, a feltmaker’s studio in Garland, natural dye demonstrations in Lovell and a rug hooking studio on Westport Island.

People taking the tour can also check out hand-dyed yarns, cashmere fiber, collectible art quilts, needlework images and freshly-shorn fleeces.

The fiber scene in Maine includes artists working with fabric, collage, thread, paint or paper. These artists paint quilts, stitch books, coil baskets, felt masks and knit sculpture. There are also small farms producing mohair, alpaca, llama and wool.

“Our Fiber Arts Tour Weekend is a wonderful way to step inside a working studio or farm and see how craft is made. Thousands of people toured studios in past years, and we are pleased to host this event annually — always the first weekend in August,” said Christine Macchi, executive director of Maine Fiberarts.

Demonstrations offered during the Fiber Arts Tour Weekend are posted online to help people plan their itineraries. Printed brochures listing all participants can be obtained at Maine Fiberarts or Halcyon Yarn in Bath.

This is Maine’s largest open studio tour. All activities are free.

Besides this event, people can use the Maine Fiberarts tour map throughout the year to visit 134 sites on a “call-ahead” basis. The map can be picked up at Maine visitor information centers or at Maine Fiberarts, 13 Main St. Maps can also be mailed for a small fee by calling 721-0678.

For information, call Maine Fiberarts, email [email protected] or visit www.mainefiberarts.org.