Great Canadian Lumberjack Show will stage three free performances on Market Street
PERTH — The chips will fly when the Great Canadian Lumberjack Show comes to Perth as a special feature of the 50th anniversary of the Festival of the Maples.
The lumberjacks perform both traditional and modern logger sports, demonstrating their axeman skills and chainsaw abilities. The show travels extensively throughout Ontario and Quebec, but their visit during this year’s festival on Saturday, April 25, will be a first for Maplefest.
Rose Grieder, interim executive director of the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce, organizers of the festival, says the lumberjacks’ visit is being made possible through a one-time grant from the Perth and District Community Foundation.
“We’re very grateful to the Foundation for their support in helping us secure this major tourist attraction in celebration of the festival’s landmark 50th anniversary,” said Grieder. “There has been a lot of buzz since we announced their visit. It should be a big draw as part of our yearly salute to our local maple syrup producers.”
The show features two two-person lumberjack teams competing in several events, including chainsaw carving, wood chopping, cross-cut saw races and axe throwing using traditional double-bit axes.
Clarke Ellah, owner and emcee of the show, says one of the crowd favourites is the underhand chop.
“The lumberjacks stand on top of a block of wood and swing their axes between their feet to chop the log,” said Ellah. “Then, when they’ve chopped halfway through, they reverse their position to chop the other side. As you can imagine, accuracy is key.”
Other events include the old-time springboard race, where competitors chop a pocket into the side of a tree to insert a springboard. They then climb onto the board and are timed on how quickly they can chop the top out of the tree while balancing.
Chainsaw enthusiasts will enjoy the “hot saws,” modified chainsaws that generate more power, making them faster and louder than standard models.
The Great Canadian Lumberjack Show will present three free performances at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on what is being dubbed “Lumberjack Lane” on Market Street, between Perth Town Hall and TD Bank.
The festival also features the annual Maplefest syrup competition, a classic and antique car show, and live music on two stages.
The Tay Basin will host the Safety Square and children’s play park, with activities by Ry-J’s Climbing Adventures, along with a petting zoo and the Perth Firedawgs children’s obstacle course.
The Maplefest after-hours Plaid Party dance featuring Open Road starts at 7 p.m. in the Crystal Palace. The event is a fundraiser for the Hospice Hub, with tickets available at ticketsplease.ca.
For more details, visit festivalofthemaples.com.
SOURCE: Media Release submitted by Perth Festival of the Maples.
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