SOUTH FORK— The annual Logger Days event is scheduled to hit South Fork the second weekend in July and this year the town has added new events for everyone to enjoy. In an article printed earlier in May, the town announced that there would be a car show added to the annual festival and now have also added a 5k race and kickoff concert Friday night by local band Old School.
The event began 27 years ago as a way to honor the town’s logging history and is one of the very few national logging competitions that take place throughout the country today. Starting on Friday July 19, the festival kicks off with a craft fair that will run throughout the weekend and live entertainment at the visitor center that evening. Vendors from all over come to sell their wares, food and arts to the public. Many booths will feature handmade jewelry, sculptures and paintings, offering a unique touch to the typical shopping experience.
Throughout the weekend guests can also enjoy a new Outdoor Expo that includes all of the state-of-the-art RVs, UTVs, four-wheelers and more. The expo is a new addition that began last year and was such a huge success the town and volunteers working on the Logger Days event wanted to bring it back.
The car show, hosted by Poor Boys Car Club, will be held Friday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. The kickoff concert will follow.
On Saturday, the fun starts with logging competitions that bring participants from across the country to the area. The competitions will include axe throwing, the plunge cut, timed wood chopping and much more. The competitors are competing for cash prizes.
Saturday night, gear up for the final rodeo in the Rockin’ the Rio Grande series held at 6:30 p.m. at Rickel Arena.
Sunday is dubbed to be the most exciting day of the festival featuring several more logging events. An overall award for the Saturday and Sunday events will be given to an amateur winner. Sunday will feature speed cutting, two-man cross-cut and a choker race.
The day will start with a 5k race at 7 a.m. at the South Fork Community Center. The race will take participants along the ATV Route to County Road 15 and along the river to the Rio Grande Club and Resort entrance and back again. The registration form can be found on the Logger Days Facebook Page under the posts tab.
The festival is fun for the entire family. There will be several children’s activities available for the younger crowd. Children will be able to participate in train rides, pony rides, a saw dust pile treasure hunt and face painting.
The South Fork Visitors Center is still in search of vendors for the upcoming festival. For more information or to get a detailed agenda for the Logger Days Festival, contact the visitors center at 719-873-5512. Registration forms for those who want to participate in the competitions or be a vendor during the craft show are available online at www.southfork.org under the Logger Days event tab.