Watch the sawdust scatter and trees transformed into works of art as modern lumberjacks and lumberjills compete for cash purses in Wisconsin. Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, logging energized the state's burgeoning industrial economy. Wisconsin communities salute their logging roots by organizing annual festivals and shows honoring the thousands of lumberjacks who helped develop a vital state industry.
LogJam Festival Competitions
- The community of Mosinee celebrates logging history each August with the Little Bull Falls LogJam Festival. The two-day tribute to lumberjack traditions and history takes place along the Wisconsin River. Sponsored by the Mosinee Chamber of Commerce, events include the All American Lumberjack Show showcasing log sawing and log rolling competitions, the Kid's Lumberjack Sports Camp and chainsaw carving demonstrations. Focused on area heritage, activities also include a Civil War reenactment camp and cemetery tours. Attendees enjoy arts and crafts, river races, the Woodsman 5K Run-Walk, live music and food, beverages and fireworks at dusk over the Wisconsin River.
Winter's Great Northern Lumberjack Contests
- Wisconsin's official tourism agency considers Eagle River's Klondike Days to be the state's top winter family festival. Highlights of the two-day late winter event include the Great Northern Lumberjack Competition. With thousands of dollars in prize money, contests attract top notch lumberjacks and jills. See skilled woodsmen and women compete in crosscutting, chainsawing and axe throwing. Klondike Days' chainsaw carving competition draws woodcarvers from across Wisconsin and beyond. Spectators watch as the artisans transform hunks of wood into beautiful sculptures. As many as 12,000 people turn out for Klondike Days and its 25 different events. Other festival activities include arts and crafts, dog pull championships and a Native American cultural exposition.
World Championships at Hayward
- Since 1960, the city of Hayward has had bragging rights to the Lumberjack World Championships. Over the years, this premier event has been covered by ABC's "Wide World of Sports," ESPN and the Travel Channel. Taking place during three days in June, more than 100 skilled lumberjacks and jills compete in over 21 competitions for $50,000 in prize money. Events test strength and skills in axe throwing, log rolling, chopping and other traditional woodsman talents. Heated competitions take place at the Lumberjack Bowl, a former lumber company holding pond.
Laughter and Logging
- Discover the fun side of lumberjacks at Fred Scheers Lumberjack Shows. The productions salute Wisconsin woodsman skills with presentations blending history, sports and laughter. Throughout the summer months, five weekly shows are presented at the Lumberjack Bowl in Hayward and at the Minocqua resort area. Each hour-long show presents 10 events, including axe throwing, log rolling, power sawing, pole climbing, a canoe joust and more. Kids create the intermission show when they volunteer to test their skills in crosscutting with a real lumberjack. Tickets for the fast-paced productions may be purchased at the ticket booths 45 minutes prior to showtime.
