Lumberjack World Championships In Wisconsin Is One Of The Largest Lumberjack Festivals In The U.S.

The best summer festivals in Wisconsin are what we live for - especially this one! Every July, the Northwoods town of Hayward becomes the center of the lumberjack world. The Lumberjack World Championships, an event that showcases feats of log climbing, sawing, and log rolling, along with plenty of joyous fun, is an annual festival that's so totally Wisconsin. The 64th competition and festival takes place Aug. 1–3, 2024. It draws huge crowds each year and is a great time for folks of all ages. If you don’t consider yourself a lumberjack fan, give this event a chance and you likely will become one. Here’s what you need to know about the Hayward, WI lumberjack show!

Hayward, pop. 2,579, is located in Sawyer County and it’s always been a lumber town.

It was founded in the mid-1800s by Anthony Judson Hayward, a lumberman who built a sawmill here.

The lumber boom times came and went but the town will forever be connected to lumberjack history.

In 1960, the Lumberjack World Championships was founded on the shore of Lake Hayward.

These two competitors in 1967 went neck-and-neck in the log-rolling competition.

Mel Thake (left) attempted to dislodge a challenger and placed fourth: Not too shabby!

More than six decades have passed and the event is still going strong.

Every year more than 12,000 spectators flock to the Lumberjack Bowl to catch all the action. The event is a huge weekend festival that includes plenty of food, entertainment, and a fun run.

The competition includes a variety of lumberjack challenges, such as axe-throwing.

And athletes see how fast they can chop or saw their way through huge logs.

The Lumberjack World Championships draw a talented international field, so athletes must bring their best game to the competition.

The speed climbs are another amazing contest.

Athletes quickly scale 60 and 90-foot cedar poles, then return quickly to the ground. The event is timed – competitors ring a bell at the top and the clock ends when they hit the ground.

Just like before, the log activities always attract a big crowd, enjoying their favorite beverages and snacks as they watch.

Whether you are a spectator or a participant, we know you'll have fun at the Wisconsin Lumberjack Championships.

The best summer festivals in Wisconsin belong on your bucket list! Discover more on the Lumberjack World Championships website. Have you been a spectator or competed in this cool event? Please share your experience in the comments below.

Did you know Hayward is the perfect small town for antiquing? And if you're traveling there, get some ideas from our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List.