Article courtesy of the Northern Light Region
Photos courtesy of The All American Lumberjack Show
The Baudette-Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce is excited to be bringing the All American Lumberjack Show to Baudette this Fourth of July. Lumberjacks opened the land to farms and cities, helped build America and became the legends of the forest. They bragged to be the best and the tales of their feats are as tall as pine trees.
The legend lives on in the All American Lumberjack Show with two teams and ten exciting lumberjack events headlining the entertainment schedule for Fourth of July events in Baudette.
Lumberjack competition has been around for a long time and each competitive event was developed from a skill that a logger needed in the woods. The show features the exciting traditional “old time skills” of log rolling, x-cut sawing, ax throwing, buck sawing and boom racing.
10,000 gallons of water and pride will be on the line during three performances throughout the day at noon, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
In addition, the lumberjack team will conduct a “Lumberjack Kids Camp” at 5 p.m.
Between the shows, you’re invited to sit back and watch the lumberjacks, with nothing but chainsaw, transform a plain old log into just about anything imaginable including bears, eagles, turtles, fish, cactus, frogs and mushrooms. Be sure to bring your wallet as the chainsaw carvings will be for sale.
And as the dust settles, you’re also invited to meet lumberjacks, get an autograph or take pictures.
The lumberjack events will all take place in downtown Baudette on Main Avenue North near the Grand Theater. Although some seating will be available, it will be limited, so spectators are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets.
The Lumberjack show will just be part of the day’s entertainment.
The Fort Frances Highlanders will also be in town. They will be marching in the parade as well as performing their bagpipe music during a short show at approximately 3:30 p.m. at the Border State Bank Stage on Main Avenue.
Wrapping up the day’s entertainment will be Tami and the Bachelor. They will play for the street dance from 6-7:30 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.
The celebration will go on all day with food and merchandise vendors located on Main Avenue, breakfast at the Moose Lodge, a pie and ice cream social at the VFW, and special events and the Historic Baudette Depot and Lake of the Woods County Museum.
Kids will find plenty of fun with the water wars game and inflatables downtown from noon-2 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m. and Kiddie Races courtesy of the Lake of the Woods Women of Today in the lot next to Reed Realty at 4 p.m.
If Bingo is your thing, you’ll find that at the American Legion Club after the parade until 5 p.m. That will also be sponsored by the Women of Today with proceeds going to the Post Prom Party.
The Rotary Club will host their annual Bobber Race on the Rainy River at 5 p.m.
Pre-registration is open through June 24 for the annual running of the Firecracker 5K Run/Walk. Forms are available at local banks and online at www.baudettelwchamber.com. This year’s race headquarters will be located at Lake of the Woods School. The location and route has been moved from previous years due to the construction project in town.
A kiddie parade will take place on Main Avenue South at 1:30 p.m. This year’s route has changed from previous years. The kiddie parade will begin on Main Avenue at Sacred Heart Church and head south for two blocks on the east side of the street. The parade will essential circle back at that point, traveling back north on Main on the west side of the street ending at Sacred Heart. No pre-registration is necessary for the Kiddie Parade. Participants should be at Sacred Heart no later than 1:15 p.m. for line-up.
The Main Parade will begin at 2 p.m. This year’s route will also be affected by the construction project. The parade will start as it always does on the south end of Main Avenue in front of CHI LakeWood Health Center. It will travel north along Main Avenue to 1st Street and turn west at Sacred Heart Church for one block before turning south along 1st Avenue where it will travel for two blocks ending at the corner of 3rd Street with the parade dispersing to the west toward First Lutheran Church.
Pre-registration is required for the parade. You may register by contacting Border State Bank at 634-3300.
The day will end with Northern Minnesota’s Most Spectacular Fireworks Display over the Baudette Bay with best viewing from Willie Walleye Park.
