Loggerodeo 2015
Sedro-Woolley, WA, the town where I was born, celebrated its first Loggerodeo in 1886, making the Loggerodeo the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the state.
My sister and I drove up to Woolley (as we affectionately call it) on Friday afternoon, July 3. And oh, dear! TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC, TERRIBLE TRAFFIC! (Although I shouldn’t complain. The next day we drove the speed limit (or more) all the way home.)
We drove up on Friday because my high school classmate had invited his graduating class, neighbors, church friends, and relatives to picnic and watch the July 3rd fireworks over Big Lake from his front lawn.
As you can see, he has a ginormous lawn. (A couple of his kids live in houses next door, so part of what you see belongs to them.)
Sorry. No fireworks pictures. My lack of skill with a camera does not permit.
The next day we went to the Loggerodeo Grand Parade. This house we walked past took my eye. It’s all dressed up for the holiday.
The parade had big horses …
… and little dogs on the sidelines.
Logging trucks are always a staple in a Loggerodeo parade …
… as are marching bands, floats, and little girls twirling batons. These tractors were briefly upstaged by a fly-over.
Bales of hay with a patriotic theme.
We didn’t stay for the rodeo, but we did stop in at the chainsaw carving contest. Carvers from all over the world come to this three-day-long contest. All their works of art are carved from cedar.
Here’s the process (more or less): Take a chunk of a cedar tree like this one in the foreground …
… start your chainsaw …
… add a pile of sawdust …
… and a hunky guy …
… and let the sawdust fly. Here are a couple of the more humorous results:
Intricate work for a chainsaw.
I don’t know who won the contest, so I’ll have to end with a big shade tree and a dappled sidewalk. During this unusual heatwave we’re having, I’m in love with big shade trees.
Quite a celebration down there at Sedro-Woolley. The parade looks very entertaining with the horses and the vehicles. Spectacular and the crowd seemed to enjoy every second of it. Beautiful day as well for it from your photos 🙂 Those people who participated in the chainsaw carving competition certainly have a lot of skill. The Hulk looks very life-like, scary in fact.
Fourth of July isn’t big in Australia, but all around the city pubs and clubs got into the spirit by promoting American food such as burgers and hot dogs last weekend 🙂
For more than twenty years of living abroad in the Philippines and Vanuatu, we seldom celebrated the Fourth of July. Once in Manila, the American ambassador invited the Americans who worked for Asian Development Bank to a garden party at the embassy. Once in Vanuatu, an American friend had a big picnic in his yard. Those are the times I remember. Occasionally we were in the US for home leave on the Fourth.
Sometimes the smallest celebrations in the most faraway places have the most heart. Though you haven’t celebrated the Fourth of July much outside of the States, I’m sure the spirit of the occasion has always stuck with you.
Looks like a fun way to celebrate the 4th, Nicki. Love the chain saw sculptures ~ impressive work.
Small town parades are such a good way to see the character of the community.
Like many small towns, Sedro-Woolley’s character has changed over the years. A hundred years ago it was a jumping off point for big logging camps upriver. When I lived there, logging was still fairly big. The loggers saved their biggest logs for the parade. The one-log load was the goal. There’s still logging in the area, but the trees aren’t as big.
Looks like a grand small town celebration…those are often the best kinds! The chainsaw art is incredible!
Oh wow, what a front lawn, it looks like a public park, haha. And those guys can do that with a chainsaw?? Amazing…
In Spain we don’t do much for our national day… just a militar parade in Madrid. We don’t really have that much of a proud national feeling…
My sister, who spent her junior year studying in Valencia, still talks about Las Fallas. She loved the ninots. She traveled back to Valencia this year and visited the museum in which ninots from past years are stored. Amazing!
What a great way to spend the 4th of July. Those creations made with the aid of a chainsaw are pretty amazing – you need some great skill and technique to carve such creative pieces. That eagle is pretty awesome.
My husband and I were lucky enough to be in the States during Independence Day several years ago and opted to head to Siesta Key in Florida – that beach has to have the whitest, softest sand ever!
In years past, the chain saw carvings were more crude and the subjects less interesting–usually bears. These were more intricately carved than I’d seen before and more creatively designed.
I thought I’d seen white beaches before I went to Florida. But the white beaches I knew were creamy coral sand. Florida has that pure white silica sand.
Looks like a lovely happy 4th. Small town parades are the best! 🙂
Some of the benefits of a small town parades: You don’t have to come early; the sidewalks aren’t crowded; you can move around; and (if you haven’t been away too long) you will know people in the parade and see old friends on one street corner or another. Also, you can take time out to buy a snack or lunch as we did and then come back to the parade.
What great pictures, looks like you had a good time! 🙂
Thanks, Georgina. We did have a good time.
Loved reading your post about Woolley -as only we old timers call it-Nicki. So sorry to have missed you when you were in the area talking of your book. It is on my list. I would love to catch up with you again one day-other than christmas letter style!! Lisette
It’s nice to hear from you, Lisette. I do enjoy reading your Christmas letters, but, yes, it would be nice to meet up in person sometime instead.
Nicki…your pictures are fantastic and I love your story about our hometown celebration!
We also visited the Sedro-Woolley Museum. It’s grown tremendously since last time I saw it. They have some great photos of the early days of the town.
As you know, Karen, I only touched the surface. There are so many more events that I didn’t even mention. When we were kids, the highlight was the carnival right in the middle of town. Now I think they have it at Riverfront Park.
Looks like a nice place to live.
It was a nice place to live when we were growing up.
Clydesdales! Love those big horses.
I went to a small-town parade in NH once. Lots of horses, including white one with its mane & tail dyed purple and a glittery horn stuck on its head.
Had no idea the chainsaw could do such delicate work. Did you take any sculptures home?
Most of the sculptures weren’t done yet. Since they were still working, we were kept at a distance and they were surrounded by their tools, so it was hard to get a good shot. One that I liked had an eagle atop a wolf on top of a mountain goat.
Though I’ve never been much of a rider, I love the look and movement of horses. I enjoyed painting them when I was doing Chinese brush painting.
A wonderful collection of photos of a great celebration.
Thank you, Michelle. Apple iphone is so handy for quick shots.
Wonderful photos, Nicki! Your classmate has a very nice setup with his family so close. Looks like a great celebration. Wow. Very talented sculptors!
I hope the tiny dog enjoyed the parade. 🙂
It’s unusual these days for parents, grown children and grandchildren to live so close and to have what amounts to a shared yard. On nice days like we’ve been having, the grandchildren must be back and forth all day long.