Get ready because Westwood’s biggest party of the year is happening today, July 2nd, and you are invited! The Westwood Area Chamber of Commerce is presenting their 28th annual Paul Bunyan Days Festival including a street dance, a fun run, live music in the park, a community breakfast and a parade through the middle of town.
Experience the history, the heritage and the true pioneer spirit of Westwood – a town carved out of the forest by the Red River Lumber Company just over a century ago.
When Red River moved into Lassen County they brought the legend of Paul Bunyan to Westwood where the first printed storybooks were created. Babe the Blue Ox, Brimstone Bill and Paul’s other friends were created in Westwood as part of a 30-year advertising campaign boasting Red River’s Paul Bunyan Pine.
You can start your day with the Paul Bunyan Log Camp Breakfast at the Community Center. Money raised helps fund the Westwood museum.
Registration for the 5th Annual 5K Fun Run begins at 7:00a.m., and the run itself starts at 8:00. Cost to enter the run/walk is $10 for adults and children under 12 get registered for free.
The Big Paul Bunyan Parade
Entries will begin lining up at 9:00 and the parade begins at 10:30 finishing at Westwood Park just in time for the Paul Bunyan Mountain Festival. We’ll be there with our SusanvilleStuff cameras to capture all of the parade excitement.
Once the parade has cleared the gates people will be able to enter the park where live blues music will be playing all afternoon. The band Nothing Personal will play from 12:00 to 2:00 and the Amy Celeste Band will play from 2:30 to 4:30.
The Logging Show
The Logging Show and Competition starts at noon and is an all afternoon event. A junior logging show is also part of the afternoon festivities and competes for popularity with the older loggers. You won’t want to miss it.
According to the event organizers there will be numerous craft antique and collectibles and food vendors with enough of a variety to satisfy all appetites and wallets.
Last but not least, there will be Blue Ox Bingo happening in the park at 2:00p.m.
