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The shuttles are tuned up, the axes honed, saws sharpened and plenty of timber is on site at Mississagi Provincial Park for this weekend's 2019 edition of Lumberjack Days in the park. It's just half an hour north of Elliot Lake, one of the best-kept secrets in the Ontario Parks system. Lumberjack Days runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3 and 4. This is the sixth annual event since the return of Lumberjack Days in 2014.
Saturday afternoon marks the start of competition with children's events including face painting, trapper challenge, the colouring contest, minnow races, wood disc toss, voyageur canoe ride, water bucket challenge, watermelon eating contest and a photo booth. Saturday afternoon the adult canoe races and the log burling competition are being held.
Sunday adults get their main turn with events including axe throwing, two-person bucksaw cross cut, chainsaw, nail driving contests, and the underhand cut. Admissions are children $3.00 per day, $5.00 for the weekend. Adults are $5 per day or $9 for the weekend Events run 12 noon to 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am til 4:00 pm. The Fly Boarding event goes Friday from 3:00 pm til 8:00 pm.
The winners will be selected based on their showings in these events. It looks like the weatherman will be smiling on the proceedings, with mainly sunny skies forecast for both days and a high 25.
Features include the Wood Butcher chainsaw carving, Montreal Canoe, Lumberjack Pancake Breakfast plus the Elliot Lake Wildcats BBQ and Fly board.
Organizers are providing free shuttle busses to and from Mississagi Park from the parking and pickup point adjacent to Centennial Arena.. There's also free in-park shuttle service between events in Mississagi Provincial Park.
There are adult and team competitions in all events. Registration packages are available at the Welcome Centre in Collins Hall on Hillside North, and at Mississagi Park before 10 Sunday morning.
Park permits for parking and camping fees still apply. You can get more information at the Mississagi Provincial Park office at 705-862-1203.
Sarah Daigle, Mississagi Park supervisor, is expecting a near capacity crowd of campground guests. As was done last year, she and her staff are standing by to add additional camping space in the overflow area, if needed. Last year she had the happy task of juggling to accommodate 1,500 visitors from across the province, along with area residents.