Park Rapids Legends and Logging Days will be bigger and better in 2011 with added events and activities in the works.
Park Rapids calls itself the "Loon Capital of the USA" and annually hosts the Legends and Logging Days. This year's event will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 12-13 at the East 40, Park Rapids Antique Tractor & Engine Club grounds. The event used to be held at Red Bridge Park but this new location will provide more room for activities.
The Antique Tractor & Engine Club Grounds has several historic buildings and a working sawmill. Visitors will feel like they have stepped back in time when strolling the 40-acre property.
Legends and Logging Days is Park Rapids' premier summer event, celebrating our area's history, culture, artisans and food. Skilled chainsaw artists sculpt masterpieces before your eyes and fiercely competitive loggers thrill audiences. Loon calling contestants compete for the best calls in their age category. The two-day event also offers a unique marketplace, chili and wing cook-off, black powder events, an amazing array of delicious foods and family activities for visitors of all ages.
A variety of artisans will demonstrate their skills such as blacksmithing, metal work, glass blowing, furniture making and a turn of the century sawmill in operation. A miniature train and ice cream parlor take you back in time.
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A variety of live music from bluegrass to country to light opera will be performed both days. The Northern Light Opera Company thrills visitors year after year with their unique and entertaining musical performances and will be on hand as will other local and regional musicians.
This was Park Rapids' signature event for more than 30 years and was established to honor the rich heritage of logging in this neck of the woods. Legends & Logging Days brings world champion and world record-breaking lumberjacks and lumberjills, competing in wood chopping and sawing contests.
Master Chainsaw sculptors create north woods masterpieces all day Friday and Saturday. Judges do "quick carves" to demonstrate their skills while master carvers work, chips flying and masterpieces emerging from raw pieces of wood. Once the sculptures have been completed, they are auctioned off to the highest bidder in a high energy, entertaining auction that all attendees are welcome to participate in.
Downtown Park Rapids will host a variety of events that will tie in to the historic and artistic aspect of the festival. The main street of this busy, bustling and brawling town of Park Rapids was made extra wide so teamsters could turn their long outfits (of four- or six-horse teams) around wherever they needed to. (Even though the city council contemplated building sidewalks to replace boardwalks on Main Street in 1891, the hitching posts weren't removed from Main Street until 1913.) Today it accommodates middle of the street parking, much to the delight of locals and visitors alike.
Water Wars on Main will once again be part of the festivities during the two-day event. The event, held Friday evening, is free to watch. Come support the local teams who compete for bragging rights year after year. Spend the evening downtown shopping and enjoying an ice cream cone or refreshments at one of many establishments along Main.
Closer to the event, a schedule of all events and activities will be available. The Antique Tractor & Engine Club grounds are located on County Road 6, one-half mile south of state Highway 34 on the east side of Park Rapids.
