By Price County Fun | Updated June 9, 2026
Fifty-nine years. That’s how long the Catawba-Kennan Lions Club has been running Lumberman’s Day — a festival that started in 1967, back when logging was still the backbone of Price County’s economy, and has outlasted just about every other event in the area. On Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13, 2026, the tradition continues at Catawba Park in Catawba, Wisconsin.
This isn’t a polished corporate festival with VIP passes and sponsor tents. It’s a small-town celebration run by volunteers who probably spent the morning setting up horseshoe pits and the evening running the raffle. That’s exactly what makes it worth the drive.
What Is Lumberman’s Day?
Lumberman’s Day is an annual logging heritage festival organized by the Catawba-Kennan Lions Club. It celebrates the timber industry that built Price County — the loggers, the sawmills, the men who turned pine into paychecks. The event has run every year since 1967, making it one of the longest-running community celebrations in the region.
The festival sits in Catawba, a village of roughly 140 people just 15 minutes south of Phillips. While the rest of the county was defined by timber, local lore suggests Catawba was actually named after the Catawba wine enjoyed by early railroad workers and lumberjacks! If you’re already in Price County for the Price County Fair or Prentice Progress Days, Lumberman’s Day is the same kind of thing: community-run, affordable, and genuinely local.
2026 Schedule: What’s Happening on June 12 & 13
The 59th Annual Lumberman’s Day Celebration is a two-day event this year, packed from Friday evening through Saturday night. Here’s what’s on the schedule at Catawba Park, N4584 High Street, Kennan, WI 54515:
Friday Night Pre-Party (June 12)
- 5:30 PM – Car, Truck & Tractor Cruise-In: Classic vehicles line up — restored pickups, vintage tractors, and more than a few vehicles that still get used for actual farm work during the week.
- 2K/4K Run-Walk: Work up an appetite before the evening festivities.
- 6:00 PM – Classic Vehicle Display: The Pre-Lumberman’s Day Car Show gets the weekend started early. Expect to see beautifully restored vintage cars, trucks, and tractors.
- 6:30 PM – Flag Retirement Ceremony: The American Legion hosts a proper flag retirement ceremony, a respectful, old-school tradition that draws veterans and families.
- Live Music: Stick around for Friday night entertainment, which historically has fun, local live music acts (including Loren Wanish with his Elvis tribute show!) to kick off the weekend.
Saturday Main Events (June 13)
Parade (10:30 AM)
The parade steps off in the morning and runs through downtown. Expect fire trucks, classic cars, logging equipment, and enough candy thrown from floats to keep kids wired until dinner. This is the kind of parade where you recognize half the people walking in it.
Jump River Valley Museum / Historic Town Hall
Take a step back in time. The historic brick Town Hall Museum will be open, displaying artifacts from 1890 through 1940, including exhibits on local lumbering, farming, and rural schooling.
Logging Contests (1:00 PM)
The heart of Lumberman’s Day. Two-man crosscut saw competitions where teams race through logs — the 2018 winners did it in 6.43 seconds. Bolt splitting, chainsaw dueling, and axe throwing. These are the same skills that built Price County in the 1870s and 1880s, and they’re still competitive today.
Horseshoe, Volleyball & Softball Tournaments
Signed-up teams compete in horseshoe pits and co-ed volleyball. There will also be a middle/high school girls’ softball game taking place. Sign up ahead of time through the Catawba-Kennan Lions Club Facebook page or show up early the day of.
Traveling Children’s Museum
Instead of traditional kids’ games this year, the festival often brings in the Traveling Children’s Museum to keep the younger ones engaged, entertained, and learning.
Food & Concessions (Starting at 11:00 AM)
Grilled chicken dinners from the Catawba Harmony Fire Department are a major point out. This is not festival food truck territory; it’s volunteer-cooked meals sold to raise money for community projects. The chicken dinner alone is worth the trip.
Lumberman’s Day Queen Coronation
The reigning queen Riley Sidenbender passes the crown to this year’s winner. A small-town tradition that’s been running for decades.
Raffle & Live Entertainment
Only 60 raffle tickets are sold at $100 each, with a $1,500 grand prize. That’s a 1-in-60 shot — better odds than any lottery in Wisconsin. The drawing is at 4 PM. After that, Twisted Whisker plays live country and rock from 4–8 PM, followed by a bonfire to close out the night.
Important: No Carry-Ins
The flyer is clear on this: no carry-ins allowed. The event runs on concession sales and raffle proceeds to fund Lions Club and Fire Department projects, so plan to buy food and drinks on-site.
Why Lumberman’s Day Matters
Price County’s identity is tied to timber. The logging industry shaped this region, from the pine forests that drew settlers in the 1800s to the county forests that still generate timber revenue today. Lumberman’s Day is one of the few festivals that explicitly honors that heritage rather than just using “heritage” as a marketing word.
The fact that this event has run for 59 consecutive years says something about the community. Three communities in Price County — Fifield, Ogema, and Kennan — are all celebrating sesquicentennials in 2026. These towns were built on logging money and they remember it.
As Lions Club organizer Colin Hoogland put it: “Lumberman’s Day has a threat of rain almost every year but the clouds always seem to break just in time.” In a town of 141 people, they don’t cancel for weather. They don’t cancel for much of anything.
The Lions Club runs this event as a fundraiser. The money goes back into the community: eyeglass programs, youth scholarships, disaster relief, and local infrastructure. When you buy a raffle ticket or a chicken dinner, you’re not just paying for a meal. You’re funding the things that keep these small communities functioning.
Getting There & What to Know
Location: Catawba Park, N4584 High Street, Catawba, WI 54515
Directions from Phillips: Head south on Highway 13 to US-8, then head west. Drive time is roughly 20-25 minutes.
Directions from Prentice: Take US-8 west for about 10 minutes straight into Catawba.
Cost: Admission is free. You pay for food, raffle tickets, and any tournament entry fees.
Parking: On-site at Catawba Park. Arrive early for the parade; the main road shuts down during it.
What to bring: Lawn chairs, sunscreen, cash for raffles and food. No carry-ins.
For the most up-to-date schedule and tournament sign-ups: Check the Catawba-Kennan Lions Club Facebook page or the Travel Wisconsin Events Calendar.
Make a Day of It
If you’re coming to Lumberman’s Day, you’re already in Price County. A few things worth combining with your trip:
- Before the festival: Grab breakfast or coffee in Phillips, then head south to Catawba.
- After the festival: Stop at Ripsaw Saloon in Prentice for a cold drink and beef tallow wings on your way back north. It’s on your route home.
- Weekend warriors: If you’re spending the whole weekend, hit the Price County Fair later this summer or explore the ATV trails that connect Prentice to the rest of the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lumberman’s Day 2026?
Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, 2026. This is the 59th annual event.
Where is Lumberman’s Day held?
Catawba Park, N4584 High Street, Catawba, WI 54515. That’s just a short drive west of Prentice on US-8.
Is there an admission fee?
No. Admission is free. You pay for food, drinks, raffle tickets, and tournament entry fees.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
No carry-ins are allowed. All food and beverages must be purchased on-site. The Lions Club and Catawba Harmony Fire Department run the concessions as a fundraiser.
How do I sign up for the horseshoe or volleyball tournaments?
Check the Catawba-Kennan Lions Club Facebook page for sign-up information, or arrive early the day of the event.
See also: our weekend weather preview, our ATV trail guide for Price County, our guide to free camping in Wisconsin, our 48-hour Price County itinerary and what makes Price County communities special
See also: our guide to every town in Price County
Lumberman’s Day Historical Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1967 | First Lumberman’s Day held by Catawba-Kennan Lions Club |
| 2026 | 59th annual celebration, now a two-day event |
Source: Catawba-Kennan Lions Club records, Lumberman’s Day historical programming.
Related: Price County Fair 2026 and Prentice Progress Days 2026.