Get ready because Westwood’s biggest party of the year is happening this week and you are invited! The Westwood Chamber of Commerce is presenting their 27th 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.
The Paul Bunyan Festival kicks-off with a street dance tonight, July 10th at the visitor’s center at 3rd and Ash streets. Come dance to live music under the stars with northstate favorites Fourgery starting at 8:00p.m. There will be food, vendors and lots of fun.
On Saturday morning, July 11th, 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 Amy Celeste Band will play from 12:00 to 2:00 and the J.C. Smith Band will play from 2:30 to 5:30.
To see our SusanvilleStuff gallery from last year’s parade click here.
The Logging Show and Competition, hosted by Tommy Salem and Jack Medici, 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.
For kids the festival is featuring Brimstone Bill’s Carnival with children’s activities and a water slide.
Last but not least, there will be Blue Ox Bingo happening in the park at 2:00p.m.