In November 1934, the first Lumberjack Days was held in Stillwater to honor and feature the talents of lumberjack Harold Fisher, the city’s primary skillsman, just at the end of the logging boom. The event picked up steam but halted in 1941 due to World War II, then picked up as Play Days in the 1950s, before going away again until 1968, when a group of nostalgic businesspeople who remembered those first few years brought it back to “again revive the vitality of Stillwater and bring people to the area,” according to the Stillwater Historical Society.
Hitting what many say were the festival’s heyday in the 1970s and 1980s, the community event took on a whole new look and feel when national bands began serenading crowds in Lowell Park, and for some in the community, the event became a reason to leave town for a weekend each July instead of a reason to celebrate it. Things came to a head in 2011, when the event was canceled due to a financial scandal involving previous event organizers.
Then, 80 years after the first fest, and still amid controversies ranging from overcharging politicians to participate in parades to questionable naming choices, a small band of “Locals” has jumped through hoops to bring Lumberjack Days (Log Jam Days for the past couple of years) back like a phoenix from the ashes, restoring it to its previous, intentionally smaller-scale, hometown glory.
“For us, it has always been about celebrating how great Stillwater and the St. Croix Valley are, and bringing back a tradition that many hold dear,” says Erin McQuay, marketing representative for the Locals. “That tradition is Lumberjack Days.”
THE MUSIC
Music on the main stage gives something for all ages to listen to, dance to or pass the time with in between events and activities. The entire lineup is at lumberjackdays.com, but highlights include Charlie Parr and Black Eyed Snakes on Friday, Har Mar Superstar and The Suburbs on Saturday, and Everett Smithson and Tree Party on Sunday.
THE FOOD
In recent years, “One of our most popular vendors has been the gluten-free mini donuts [Free Indeed Food],” McQuay says. “They were a new concept to us … I had my reservations (with no reason other than the fear of change), and I felt like I could eat them in a contest and always be the winner.” Now in the company’s fourth festival season, owner Rachel Fizel says, each of her recipes are free of gluten and the other eight top allergens.
The Woodbury mother of three launched the business after experiencing disappointment at the lack of options for her gluten-sensitive youngest daughter at the Minnesota State Fair; now she’s hoping to add a corndog recipe to the tent for this season, along with lemonade, smoothies and the ever-famous mini donuts. Her gluten-free, all-purpose flour is also on sale at River Market and Kowalski’s in Stillwater. “It’s a super-rewarding business,” Fizel says. “These kids literally cannot eat much else when it comes to fair food, so they’re so excited to be able to come and eat from us—it helps us to keep focus.” Free Indeed, like all vendors, will be on site from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
THE DERBY
Back by popular demand are the Adult Downhill Derby Races, with 24 cars competing in a double-elimination bracket beginning at 1 p.m. Friday. Participants craft their own vessel, which can be no bigger than 6 feet long by 3-feet-wide by 3-feet-tall, and must be fully gravity-propelled. Judging takes place the night before, and prizes are given for the most creative, fastest-looking, best lumberjack theme and best costumed driver.
IN THE PARK
In addition to the music and food vendors, there are some exciting competitions in Lowell Park. Early Saturday afternoon is the return of the Chef’s Competition, where two local chefs (reigning champ Nate from Tara’s Hideaway vs. Bernice from Pub 112) take ingredients purchased that morning at the Stillwater Farmers Market and compete live in front of the audience to create the best dishes, judged by James Beard Award winners, among others. There’s also weekend-long hammerschlaugen and a Sunday morning karaoke contest.
THE PARADE
This year the Women’s Leadership Branch of the United Way is going to be leading a Kids’ Parade, which was a popular event in days gone by. Little kids can dress up, some bring buggies with dollies, and they do a short parade in Pioneer Park. “We’re looking forward to this, as we love local families making this a part of their family’s tradition and memories,” McQuay says. The regularly scheduled parade starts at 1 p.m. Sunday; the route is the same as in the past with one small detour, turning off of Greeley onto Olive, then turning on Owens.
THE LUMBERJACKS
Descendants of one of the first Lumberjack Days performers still make up the primary lumberjack troupe performing today, and once a day the Fisher family hosts an interactive “camp” that anyone can participate in, free with waiver signature. Kids and adults get to go to the boom pool, where there’s a professional lumberjack holding the log, to try their “feet” at log-rolling. “Everybody gets wet, it’s a ton of fun, and you can try as many times as you want (most people average 10–15 tries),” says Jamie Fisher, owner of Lumberjack Enterprises. “It’s open 30 minutes each day, but you can fit two people on a log, one on each side, and each contest lasts only about 2 or 3 seconds. It’s tough to learn, but it’s really like riding a bike—once you pick it up, you have it for life.”
WHAT’S OLD? WHAT’S NEW?
The medallion hunt will have new rules this year, while Bingo in the Park makes a triumphant return. Also back this year is Saturday morning’s fishing contest. “One of the biggest additional elements we are adding this year is the 5K/10K race on Saturday morning at 8 a.m.,” McQuay says. “Another fun element for people who don’t get out on the beautiful St. Croix River is the chance to do so with $5 gondola and pontoon rides—normally these might not be in a person’s budget, but this gives folks the perfect taste of the river.”
INTERVIEW WITH A LUMBERJACK
Three generations of lumberjacks hold court over this annual festival—and the Stillwater log-rolling scene. Find out some tricks of this historic trade from Lumberjack Enterprises owner Jamie Fisher.
When did you become a lumberjack?
My family is almost third generation, my great-grandpa worked in the sawmills, and my grandpa worked in the sport of it in the 1930s. When the logging industry crashed, my grandpa started doing [log-rolling] competitively, and he taught his kids [including my dad, Jim Fisher]. I picked it up when I was just a couple of years old.
What “skills” do you possess?
Well, there are different events, if you get into competition: For boom running (log rolling), you want to be small and fast, not necessarily short but lighter than 300 lbs., because the faster you can move the feet, the better you are. However, if you’re a chopper, if you’re small, you’re not going to be competing with the 300 lb. strongmen—it requires a lot of quick muscle work and precision. If you’re a pole climber, you’re going to want to be a track athlete, strong and fit, but not real bulky to carry up [your] weight. There’s also axe -throwing and chainsaw events, too; I’ll enter those at the World Championships [in Hayward, Wis.].
Is this a full-time or part-time gig?
Since 2006, I’ve owned the three-season company, Lumberjack Enterpises, and since 2000, I’ve competed full time up until I started my own family five years ago. I’m just taking up competition again this year because my kids wanted to see me do it. The season is primarily spring, summer, fall; we’re done traveling the first or second week in November, but that’s when we go to our conventions, fix equipment, do paperwork, update websites.
Do you have any tricks of the trade ?
It’s like riding a bike. Just put the time into it; there’s a basic stance, but you really just have to go for it.
Are their other active lumberjacks in your family?
My dad, Jim, still works with me. And my 6-year-old son has never done a lumberjack show, but I’m hopeful that this year we’ll do a one-minute teaser—he’ll be the fourth Fisher generation in lumberjacking. He’s been practicing, as has my 4-year-old daughter; they both want to do some log rolling.
Lumberjack Days: july 15-17
The festivities begin with an ice cream social and activities Friday, followed by a fishing tournament, live music, tethered hot air balloon rides and more on Saturday, and a parade on Sunday. All ages. Free to attend, some activities require a small fee. See website for more information and a full schedule of events.
