World Famous Loggerodeo 2014, July 3rd-6th - Visit Skagit Valley - North Cascades National Park to Farmlands to Salish Sea

World Famous Loggerodeo 2014, July 3rd-6th

Many activities fill the Loggerodeo 2014 week long event, bringing fun for the entire family. From the Kiddie Parade and family night at the carnival, to the street dance, logging show, blues jamboree, of course the famous chainsaw carving competition, to the Grand Parade and so much more, you will be sure to find fun for everyone!

Loggerodeo 2014 Chainsaw Carving

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photo credit: Colin Diltz / Skagit Valley Herald

Did you know that Sedro-Woolley is the chainsaw carving capital of Washington AND has the oldest celebration in the state of Washington?  Sedro-Woolley staged it’s first 4th of July celebration in 1886, making it the oldest continuous celebration in the state.

Sedro-Woolley’s 4th of July celebration has been called Loggerodeo for many years. In 1996 Loggerodeo staged it’s first chainsaw carving competition. It had good prize money, rooms, good food, a meet & greet, the main event cedar logs were 8 ft tall and 3 ft wide, quick carve wood was also cedar. Slabs milled on site were all cedar. The event today still uses all cedar.

The chainsaw carving event consists of several days of family fun, bringing carvers from all over the world to this invitation only competition. You can watch the carvers mold the cedar into beautiful sculptures and purchase many of them at the daily auctions.

Loggerodeo Beard Content

loggerodeo_beard_contestYes, we said there will be fun for everyone!  The 2014 Beard Contest will be held in front of the Museum at 1:00pm on Saturday, July 5th!

Check out the 2013 Winners in the 12 categories with their plaques, with the Rodeo Queen!

Loggerodeo Fireworks

Brilliant blasts of exploding color light up the black night sky in grand display this July 4th, starting at dusk at Riverfront Park. It’s the highlight event for many youngsters and old alike. Many assemble to watch and “oooh and aaah” over the sparkling sky’s show, bringing the celebration to a climax – ending with a big bang, as the grand finale of the patriotic annual Loggerodeo tradition.

An ideal location, Riverfront Park accommodates plenty of room for parking where spectators can enjoy the park setting for a great open view of the fireworks display. With its convenient location right next to the carnival, there is still time to visit the carnival after the fireworks show ends as it is open until midnight. Come for night to celebrate great patriotic tradition, an event you don’t want to miss.

Loggerodeo Logging Show

Loggerodeo has built a log rolling pond for the show! World champions compete at our exciting show, drawing great crowds full of high anticipation. Speed, agility, and strength mark these competitors of the annual Greg Bisbey Logging Exhibition as the real deal. “It’s the longest running Logging Show competition in the U.S.,” said Greg Bisbey, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident and former world champion, claiming 7 world titles. Bisbey is also the event’s coordinator and just loves this physical show. He has been competing since the 70′s, and at his current age of 58, he is still going amazingly strong, and will be participating as one of the leading competitors this year. “We make it real fun and involve the crowd,” says Bisbey of their show. Bisbey is also wrestling coach for the Sedro-Woolley Junior High, as well as their track coach, and running with the kids keeps him in tip-top competitive shape.

Many of the events display tasks loggers must perform on the job; events include choker setting, axe throwing, and the hot chainsaw bucking competition. In the choker setting event, which is turned into a race for the show, competitors attach a 30-foot steel cable to a log and drag it to the finish line. In another annual event, they race to saw logs using the old crosscut saws that loggers used a century ago. To contrast and compare how technology has evolved, Bisbey holds a race, which is old-school vs. new, between the old crosscut saw and the chainsaws used in competitions today; of course the logs are different sizes.

Come watch half a dozen tough men display their amazing strength, skill and stamina. It’s a pretty local bunch of guys who compete. “It’s always a fun show for the whole family,” says Bisbey, “kind of a day in the woods.” The Greg Bisbey Logging Exhibition takes place after the parade on July 4th, at 2:00 p.m. and on Saturday the 5th at 2:00pm. It will be at the same location of the vacant lot at the corner of State Street, across from Wood’s Logging Supply.

Sedro-Woolley Riding Club Rodeo

The Sedro-Woolley Riding Club Rodeo is held on the 3rd and 4th of July.  2014 Dates are July 3rd at 7:00pm and July 4th at 2:00pm.  Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for Seniors, children and military members.