Alpacas by the Brook, Inc. is hosting an open house on Oct. 6-7, as part of the Alpacas of Minnesota Farm Tour.

Visitors can meet with staff to learn about alpaca care and handling. Visitors can also watch demonstrations of weaving, spinning, fiber preparation, and felting.

“The Fiber Room” will offer alpaca and other natural fibers, alpaca and alpaca-blend yarns, alpaca books, alpaca clothing and other alpaca-related gifts, according to an Alpacas by the Brook press release.

“Kristin Knits” will sell hand-painted yarn, knitting patterns, bath blocks and fiber kits, and also demonstrate fiber preparation, spinning, and needle felting. Private and small group lessons in spinning, knitting, dyeing, wet or dry (needle) felting and toiletry making will also be offered.

Chaska residents, Dan and Chiaki O’Brien, of SAORI Free-Style Weaving Studio, will offer weaving demonstrations. Visitors can also purchase woven items such as scarves and handmade cards.

Light refreshments will be available to guests.

According to the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, alpacas, cousins to the llama, are native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, especially Bolivia, and Chile and Peru.

Alpacas were first imported into the United States in 1984, and since then, the alpaca industry has grown steadily. Current estimates total over 100,000 registered alpacas with the Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI) in the United States and more than 4,000 AOBA members in North America, according to the AOBA.

Adult alpacas stand about 36 inches high and weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. Alpacas are shorn every 12 to 18 months.