Hoquiam, WA is home to the internationally known Logger's Playday, an annual festival celebrating 150 years of logging tradition in the area. Every September, loggers and interested spectators descend on the town for a day of fun, food and competition.
The word Hoquiam actually means "hungry for wood," reflecting the role logging has played in Grays Harbor County. Since the lumber barons of the nineteenth century, the forestry industry has supported the local economy and shaped life in the area. Even today, several logging companies make the town home, exporting lumber and forest products. This small town is the perfect location for a celebration of lumberjacks and their dangerous profession.
The first event of Logger's Playday is the Rotary Club's Famous Pancake Feed. After the breakfast, from 10AM until 4PM, celebrants can enjoy the vendor street fair located at 7th and J streets downtown. The street fair includes music, crafts, food and a truck driving competition.
Starting and finishing at the local high school track is the Jack Reynvaan Memorial Run. The course is primarily flat with only two steep hills. There is a two mile fun run, a 5 kilometer run, and a 10 kilometer run. All races are open to the public. Registration is at 8AM, and the race begins at 9AM.
At noon, the Logger's Playday Parade kicks off. This event is a very popular part of the day's festivities. It is sponsored by the Elks Lodge and several organizations in the community participate. The parade starts at Earley Street and ends at 5th Street. Local officials recommend finding your place early if you want to watch the parade. A Park and Ride shuttle is available to take people from Olympic Stadium to downtown, if you want to avoid traffic. Immediately after the parade, at 2PM, is the Salmon Bake.
The climax of Logger's Playday is the lumberjack games at 6PM in Olympic Stadium. Loggers come from all over the country to compete in games of skill. One of the most popular games is the choker setting competition. During this contest, loggers run across logs hanging over a large pool of water, and try to set a steel cable around the log. Frequently, the contestants take a fall and end up in the water. Other games include log rolling, log chopping, tree climbing and binder throwing, also known as ax throwing. The contestants enjoy the fun and competition and the audience loves cheering and learning about saws and axes and the people who use them.
As for lodging, the Grays Harbor area has several options. To complete the lumber theme of the event, the best choice is the Hoquiam Castle. This bed and breakfast was originally built by lumber baron Robert Lytle, and now provides a period atmosphere with all the modern conveniences.
Finishing the day of fun and festivities is the fireworks display at dusk. The Logger's Playday has been giving locals and visitors alike entertainment, food, and education for almost 50 years. Any trip to Hoquiam, WA for Logger's Playday will be time well spent.
The word Hoquiam actually means "hungry for wood," reflecting the role logging has played in Grays Harbor County. Since the lumber barons of the nineteenth century, the forestry industry has supported the local economy and shaped life in the area. Even today, several logging companies make the town home, exporting lumber and forest products. This small town is the perfect location for a celebration of lumberjacks and their dangerous profession.
The first event of Logger's Playday is the Rotary Club's Famous Pancake Feed. After the breakfast, from 10AM until 4PM, celebrants can enjoy the vendor street fair located at 7th and J streets downtown. The street fair includes music, crafts, food and a truck driving competition.
Starting and finishing at the local high school track is the Jack Reynvaan Memorial Run. The course is primarily flat with only two steep hills. There is a two mile fun run, a 5 kilometer run, and a 10 kilometer run. All races are open to the public. Registration is at 8AM, and the race begins at 9AM.
At noon, the Logger's Playday Parade kicks off. This event is a very popular part of the day's festivities. It is sponsored by the Elks Lodge and several organizations in the community participate. The parade starts at Earley Street and ends at 5th Street. Local officials recommend finding your place early if you want to watch the parade. A Park and Ride shuttle is available to take people from Olympic Stadium to downtown, if you want to avoid traffic. Immediately after the parade, at 2PM, is the Salmon Bake.
The climax of Logger's Playday is the lumberjack games at 6PM in Olympic Stadium. Loggers come from all over the country to compete in games of skill. One of the most popular games is the choker setting competition. During this contest, loggers run across logs hanging over a large pool of water, and try to set a steel cable around the log. Frequently, the contestants take a fall and end up in the water. Other games include log rolling, log chopping, tree climbing and binder throwing, also known as ax throwing. The contestants enjoy the fun and competition and the audience loves cheering and learning about saws and axes and the people who use them.
As for lodging, the Grays Harbor area has several options. To complete the lumber theme of the event, the best choice is the Hoquiam Castle. This bed and breakfast was originally built by lumber baron Robert Lytle, and now provides a period atmosphere with all the modern conveniences.
Finishing the day of fun and festivities is the fireworks display at dusk. The Logger's Playday has been giving locals and visitors alike entertainment, food, and education for almost 50 years. Any trip to Hoquiam, WA for Logger's Playday will be time well spent.
About the Author:
Learn more about Wade Entezar on the meager metropolitan of Hoquiam considers the past and takes to the water.
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