SEQUIM — Event organizers have been busy this week prepping for the 27th annual Logging Show, an annual part of the Sequim Irrigation Festival.
“We have been setting up for two weeks,” said David Blakeslee, co-director of the logging show at the Blake Avenue lot just behind QFC at 990 E. Washington St.
“The grounds we actually use is farmland owned by area pioneers,” he said.
“They allow us to come in and use their grounds. We come in and clean it up and make it look pretty, and have a great time doing it.”
The show is set from noon to 10 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
It is part of the grand finale weekend of the 2015 Sequim Irrigation Festival, which also includes fireworks tonight and a carnival and grand parade Saturday.
Among the workers preparing the lot for the Logging Show this week was Ole Bekkevar, 27.
His father, Dave Bekkevar, co-founded the show with Kevin Kennedy in 1988 when the annual Sequim Irrigation Demolition Derby ended.
His family has a special tie to the Irrigation Festival, now in its 120th year. Members of his family were pioneer farmers who moved to area circa 1910.
The family still lives on the original homestead in the Blyn area.
“For the community, it is something to do besides the parade,” Ole said of the Logging Show.
“It provides some activities and brings people together — families in the community — to a healthy social atmosphere, and it helps people see kind of what logging is about.”
Ole is a professional lumberjack who spends plenty of time in the woods climbing and hooking trees in preparation for felling.
He is pleased the public will get a glimpse into what he does on a daily basis.
“It is a rush,” he said. “The best part about it that I like is that you are always outdoors.
“Most of the time, I am just going to work and hanging out with my friends in the woods, working hard and having fun.”
Attending the show “is a lot of fun,” Blakeslee said.
“And it is free to the public. One hundred percent of it is paid for by sponsors. It is a great show.”
While all of the events at the Logging Show are free, donations are greatly appreciated and will be used to fund the event next year.
Now in its 28th year, the show includes a Truck and Tractor Pull, lawn mower races, an early time gas engine display, food and arts and crafts.
“The truck pulls are so big this year, we are actually having to start the whole thing earlier,” Blakeslee said.
“The truck pullers are on the Northwest Pullers circuit; we are part of their racing circuit.”
And the lawn mower pulls are expected to draw up to 160 competitors, Blakeslee said.
“That will be a lot of fun.”
The show also will feature wood carvers both days “that do woodcarving demonstrations and sell carvings,” Blakeslee said.
Other activities will include an antique saw exhibit, a petting zoo and a beer garden.
The annual show “is always a hit with the kids and the adults,” Blakeslee continued.
From 6 to 8 tonight, the Strongman Showdown will be held at the Logging Show venue.
During the showdown, international strongman competitors will compete in events such as the axle lift, an arm-over-arm truck pull, the log press, the tire flip, the stone stack, the dead-lift and the car lift.
Tonight, the festivities will conclude at about 9:30 p.m. with the eighth annual fireworks display.
“We’ve got a big fireworks display,” Blakeslee said. “It is definitely a great wrap-up. It leaves everybody in a great mood.”
The festivities will continue Saturday with the Tractor Pull events being held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the logging show beginning at 2 p.m.
The logging show will include events such as axe throwing, spar pole climbing, pole falling, hot saws, power saws, hand bucking and special tree acts.
During the woodworking events, there will be “some professional timber sport competitors that come to the show that are big-time,” Ole said.
“It is fun to watch them. They are really competitive and really good at it.”
The professional competitors enjoy the “thousands of people” who attend the show, Ole added.
“The competitors really enjoy the crowd.”
And the sport is no joke, he said.
“It could be dangerous, for sure — chopping and running saws,” he said.
Chain-saw carving is planned from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a live auction of the carvings at about 5 p.m. Saturday.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
