Most people who come to Goat Fest in Pittsburgh’s South Side Park on July 25 will be expecting a celebration of cute farmyard animals. They might be surprised to find a hard-working herd of four-legged landscapers tackling one of Pittsburgh’s dirtiest summer jobs: clearing poison ivy, knotweed, and other invasive plants from steep hillsides.
This Saturday, the ninth annual Goat Fest returns to South Side Park with a petting zoo, live music, food trucks, an activity-filled kid zone and an artisan market. Once there, visitors can also discover why the festival’s headliners are more than just adorable—they’re among Pittsburgh’s most-dedicated seasonal workers.
Meet Pittsburgh’s Landscaping Goats
The 50-member herd celebrated at Goat Fest is owned by Allegheny GoatScape, a nonprofit that since 2017 has been using goats to clear rugged terrain too difficult and dangerous for people or machinery. The herd includes Nubian, Alpine, Boer, LaMancha and Nigerian Dwarf goats. Together, they can spend up to 10 hours a day chomping through unwanted plants, with a group of 10 clearing an acre in a little over a week.
The eco-friendly goats don’t burn gasoline or require herbicides, and they leave behind natural fertilizer instead of emissions. Their unique digestive systems even render many invasive seeds nonviable, helping slow future growth.
“They do what they were designed to do: eat, ruminate, sleep, repeat,” says Niquelle Abdul-Malak, fundraising and communications coordinator for Allegheny GoatScape.
Fortunately, they’re as entertaining as they are efficient. Most of the herd is happy to greet visitors, while shyer goats would rather hang back and observe the crowds. A few of the sassier members have been known to sample loose hair or remind unsuspecting humans about personal space.
“Every goat definitely has their own personality,” Abdul-Malak says. “But overall they’re very sweet, curious, and gentle.”
Visitors are often surprised by how calming it is simply to spend time around them.
“We often hear from our volunteers and visitors that being around the goats is remarkably relaxing and peaceful,” Abdul-Malak says.
They’re not the only personalities in the pasture. Every herd also includes a donkey whose job is to protect the goats from coyotes and other predators.
“The donkey acts as a protector for the goats,” says Melissa Swenda, a board member of Friends of South Side Park. “Donkeys are so cute, but they can actually be pretty tough if a coyote comes.”
How Goat Fest Began
The goats first arrived at South Side Park nearly a decade ago, after Friends of South Side Park partnered with Allegheny GoatScape to reclaim rugged terrain overrun with invasive plants. Once the goats cleared the brush, volunteers restored trails and planted more than 5,000 native trees, shrubs, and perennials. They’ve even added an orchard with apple, peach, pear, and cherry trees.
After that first season, volunteers decided the working herd deserved a celebration, which became Goat Fest. Today, the goats remain the star of the show, with Allegheny GoatScape volunteers on hand to answer questions and help visitors meet the animals.
One last surprise: the goats don’t smell nearly as much as people expect.
“I don’t find them to be stinky animals in the way people sometimes imagine farm animals,” Swenda says with a laugh.
Know Before You Go
- Goat Fest is July 25 from noon to 4 p.m. at Arlington Ball Field in South Side Park, 2000 Julia St., Pittsburgh. Admission is free.
- Free parking is available at the UPMC lot located at Sarah Street and Steve Seventy Way, near South 29th Street. A shuttle service starts at 11:30 a.m.
- There is a goat yoga session starting at 9 a.m. Tickets are $35.
Keep the Goat Theme Going
If you’re leaving the festival craving some goat cheese flavor, try these favorite TABLE recipes.
Story by Lauren Davidson
Photos Courtesy of Allegheny GoatScape
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