SOUTH FORK— The Annual Logger Days is just around the corner for South Fork and officials are in full swing, planning for the extensive event. The town is in the midst of celebrating 25 years of incorporation and has added to the annual event to enlighten mid-summer slumps that hit the area this time of year.
After the railroad came to South Fork in 1882, a new type of industry bloomed out of the forests surrounding the one-stop town. Lumber from the area became a staple for the community of settlers that had gathered there. In what seemed to some as an overnight industry, the timber and saw mills took over much of the area.
The mills produced lumber for railways and mining communities nationwide. Due to the timber industry and Creede’s silver boom, the area became a destination place for rich persons seeking a Colorado experience. People came from all around to hunt, fish and stay in the wilderness.
To celebrate South Fork’s history that surrounds the town, a festival was created some years ago to pay homage to the lumber trade that made the community living here thrive. It’s a festival full of entertainment based upon the lumber trade and the men and women that lived back in those days.
Starting on Friday, July 14, the festival kicks off with a craft fair that will run throughout the weekend. Vendors from all over come to sell their wares, food and arts to the public. Many booths will feature handmade jewelry, sculptures and paintings— a unique touch to the typical shopping experience.
On Saturday, the fun starts with live music and logging competitions. The competitions will include axe throwing, the plunge cut, timed wood chopping and many more. The competitors are vying for over $2,400 in cash prizes. After the contests those in attendance can participate in the horseshoe competition. The entry fee is $5 per individual, and the winner will receive a cash prize from the accumulated pot.
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 festival is fun for the entire family. Children’s activities will be available for the younger crowd. They will be able to participate in creating crafts, a saw dust pile full of hidden treasures, pony rides and a bouncy house.
The South Fork Chamber and Visitors Center are still in search of vendors for the upcoming festival. For more information or to get a detailed agenda for the festival, contact the visitors center at 719-873-5512.