By Lyndsie Ferrell
SOUTH FORK— The 26th annual South Fork Logger Days event is coming up on the weekend of July 20, and the town is preparing for a huge turnout. The festival is one of the last of its kind in the state and is host to several events that portray the art of logging, helping to preserve the town’s long-standing history.
South Fork was originally a logging community until the late 80s when laws passed by the government shut down logging operations, and though the livelihood of those who resided there came to a screeching halt, has survived the many years since.
To celebrate South Fork’s history that surrounds the town, a festival was created to pay homage to the lumber trade that made the community thrive. Logger Days is a festival full of entertainment based upon the lumber trade and the men and woman that lived back in those days who worked the forest around South Fork and supplied lumber for railroads and mining operations nation-wide.
Starting on Friday, July 20, 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.
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. The entry fee is $5 an individual and the winner receives 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. There will be several children activities available for the younger crowd. Children 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 Visitors Center is still in search of vendors for the upcoming festival. For more information or to get a detailed agenda for Loggers Days, contact the visitors center at 873-5512.