I can't think of any other place that would hold a major festival on a Wednesday except in the relaxed North Woods town of Eagle River. Yet every year in August, around the middle of the month and always on a Wednesday, Eagle River celebrates Paul Bunyan Fest. People come from as far away as Arizona and Colorado to this event. The main streets of town are shut down so that craft vendors can set up shop in their tents and storefronts can hold sidewalk sales. It's pretty much the same vendors every year, many of whom we've come to know. It's never too early to start Christmas shopping, and many vendors sell decorations for the fall and winter holidays. This includes wreaths, autumn-themed dried arrangements, or scented candles. Packer-related quilts, lampshades and wall plaques abound, but hey, this is northern Wisconsin and it's to be expected. There's also vendors selling various dip mixes, salsas, and seasonings, our favorite being Bayfield Spice. Seems their cheddar cheese popcorn topping is always a huge hit and they sell out of it quickly. We get 4-5 packs of it to last us the year. If you're lucky, they may even have the white cheddar topping too. Another sight to see is a guy who does chainsaw sculptures by carving up thick tree trunks. He parks a flatbed truck in the middle of the street and cordons it off for safety. Spectators come see the intricate carvings of bears, eagles or totem poles that he chips away with his chainsaw. You can even bring one home with you if you have a few hundred dollars and some room in your vehicle. And finally, there's some food too. We always eat beforehand and skip that, but they usually have brats with sauerkraut. It seems too crowded with old people, and there's polka music blaring on a nearby loudspeaker. But if you stay away from that part of the festival, you'll be just fine. And you gotta stop at Tremblay's to get some fresh fudge before you leave. My favorite is the chocolate-peanut butter. But that's another review... read more

Paul Bunyan Fest - Lumberjack quartet singing - Arts & Entertainment Near Me - Eagle River, Wisconsin

See all