Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival is again back for its 67th year this August long weekend.
The festival has a rich history that would likely surprise many, even those who have attended the event for years. Starting in 1958 as a one-day event, the festival was created to showcase the history of forestry and logging in the Sea to Sky and its importance to the community.
In 1972, the festival officially changed its name from Loggers Sports Day to Squamish Day, which we know today. This change reflected the multiple events and new programming aimed to incorporate fun for the entire community of Squamish.
Behind the scenes, the festival and its not-for-profit association (Squamish Days Loggers Sports Association) are proudly run entirely by volunteers, and proceeds from the festival are shared between the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Association not-for-profit and the local community not-for-profit service groups whose tireless volunteer hours help make the event possible.
There is a solid mix of free and paid events all over Squamish— running from Thursday, August 1 to Sunday, August 4—that appeal to people of all ages and interests. Only two events need tickets purchased in advance: the Saturday and Sunday Loggers Sports Shows at the Al McIntosh Sports Grounds (39155 Loggers Lane, just south of Brennan Park) each day, with gates opening at noon.
The Sunday show is predicted to sell out before the weekend even starts and tickets can be bought from squamishdays.ca/tickets
Here are all the free events around town
Thursday at the Squamish Valley Golf Club, starting at 6:30 pm: Kettle Boil Challenge.
New and seasoned Kettle Boilers are welcome to enter this competition; sign up at squamishdays.ca/kettle2024. Spectators are encouraged to stick around for the Lumberjack Chili Cook-Off Invitational ($5 cash to join the optional tasting), with five exciting local restaurants competing for the coveted top placement, including the Squamish Legion, Sea to Sky Gondola, Outbound Station, Backcountry Brewing, Locavore and our defending champion (and host): the Squamish Valley Golf Club.
Friday, starting at 3 pm in the Corsa parking lot downtown, the World Championship Chair Carve. Then, at 6 pm, watch the Bed Races down Cleveland Avenue.
The Kids Fest runs from 10 am to 12 pm in Junction Park on Saturday.
The fun continues in the afternoon – gates at noon, show at 1 pm – for the Novice and Intermediate Loggers Sports Competition (purchase tickets in advance).
Saturday evening holds the Axe Throw Invitational at the Squamish Valley Golf Club (starting at 7 pm), where select athletes compete for cash prizes (1st place gets $1000!).
Start Sunday off with a hearty Pancake Breakfast (served from 8 am, located in the Save-On-Foods parking lot. Purchase tickets at squamishdays.ca/tickets, then head over to watch the Parade down Cleveland Avenue starting at 11 am. The top 3 float winners, as selected by a panel of judges, will win $1000 to award to local not-for-profits/charities.
Finally, the World-Class Open Loggers Sports Show caps off the weekend of events, with gates opening at noon, the show starting at 1 pm. This event sold out in 2022 and 2023, and tickets are available in advance at squamishdays.ca/tickets
