Chainsaw Carving Championships

Festival Location: Westport, WA, USA

Festival State: Washington Festivals

Festival Type(s): Art Festivals, Bizarre Festivals

By: © Nelson Taylor 2009

Every August since 1990 the folks who run Wesport's Coho Motel, have organized what has become America's largest and most respected chainsaw carving competition. About 50 professional woodsmen and power tool hobbyists gets their saws purring on huge chunks of spruce and cedar in front of a crowd of about 2,000. The only rule is that contestants must carve something with a nautical theme.

The 1999 winner was a bear sitting on a salmon with a fishing pole in its mouth. And with a pricey purse, the competition is stiff. "The winner gets $2500, which is donated by local shops and sponsors" says Cheryl Bell, the event's accountant. Then at the end of the event all of the carved pieces are auctioned off to the crowd.