Photos By Lyndsie Ferrell The annual Logger Days festival was in South Fork over the weekend and brought people from all over the region to watch logger competitions.

SOUTH FORK — The annual Logger Days festival took place this past weekend and had logging events, fun activities, and vendors galore.

The three-day event brought hundreds of people to the mountain town of South Fork and though rain threatened throughout the weekend, everyone who came out seemed to have a great time.

For almost a week before the event opened on Friday, trucks laden with logs rolled into town for the competitions, some of which are the only ones that happen in Southwestern Colorado. Competitors come from all over the US to vie for the top position in the different categories. Friday started with the ATV Rodeo and the first-ever ax throwing clinic hosted by the SLV Renegades. 

The next two days saw competitive events like ax throwing, crosscut, two-man crosscut, plunge cut, and much more.

The sound of chainsaws filled the air as the competition kicked off Saturday morning. Competitors filled the arena just outside of the South Fork Community Center and people filled the bleachers. South Fork Friends Foundation President Luke Brennan called out from the announcer’s booth.

South Fork Police Department Chief Sean Burkey cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for the hungry crowd and welcomed conversations with residents and visitors as he efficiently worked the grill.

The parking lot outside the community center was packed with a variety of vendors. 

The Rio Grande Hospital promoted brain health and the importance of bike safety. The hospital set up a large inflatable brain that people could walk through. Hospital representatives handed out small first aid kits and free bike helmets until they ran out. It was a unique and fun attraction that added to the weekend overall.

The Logger Days Festival is planned and provided by a four-person committee that sees to all of the details every year. This year, the committee raised funds for future events by raffling off a unique painting by Inga Ojala Studios. Inga also donated a large, life-size painting of Kit Carson which will be displayed at the South Fork Visitor Center.

Committee member and South Fork Town Trustee Michele Cruse commented on this year’s event, “We are just so happy with how things turned out. We have a lot of volunteers, and we are so thankful to everyone who made this possible. Police Chief Burkey served food, which was a wonderful way to be a part of the community. The Rio Grande Hospital had their exhibit which everyone just loved, and the community came out and had a great time. It really takes a team.”

The winners of the competitions were not available before publication.