By Sterling McGinn
A number of family activities and programs will commemorate our rich logging history and provide a fun-filled family weekend at the Tahquamenon Logging Museum on Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24.
The festivities will kick off with the famous Lumberjack Breakfast served in the museum’s authentic cookshack beginning a 7 a.m. both days. On Saturday, breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday.
According to museum Vice President Linda Paine, the organization is hoping young people will take an increased interest the museum, and that its activities will draw people of all ages.
“We are trying to get people back here to the museum,” Paine said.
A new feature this year is logging demonstrations performed by the Jack Pine Lumberjack Show of Mackinaw City.
“There will be axe throwing, log rolling and chain saw demonstrations,” Paine said.
There will be three 40-minute shows on Saturday, set for noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. “Each show will be a little different each time,” said Paine.
The Luce County Parks and Recreation Authority has loaned their bleachers from the baseball diamonds to provide seating for lumberjack show spectators.
A total of 10 vendors will be onsite, including a chainsaw carver blacksmith and arts and craft tents. The vendors will be open throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.
The museum concession stand will be open from noon to 7 p.m. and will feature pulled pork. A beer tent will also be onsite.
There will also be activities to entertain kids. “We will have a hula hoop contest and face painting,” said Thelma Kimbler, who serves as the museum’s secretary.
For those who love music, two variety bands will perform under the museum’s pavilion on Saturday evening. The Hackwells band will play from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Springsteen Brothers will play from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Local D.J. Henry Conway will provide music during the break between bands.
For a change of pace, storytelling and music will be performed by Bill Jamerson, who will present three different shows on Sunday.
At 1 p.m., he will give a 40-mintue program featuring lumberjack stories and songs. At 2 p.m., Jamerson will give a 40-minute program that will include a detailed history of the well-known Great Depression era work program known as the Civilian Conservation Corps.
His final presentation will take place at 3 p.m., where he will feature a children’s lumberjack program.
The museum has a campground license and has 30- and 50-amp service available to those who wish to stay on the museum grounds.
Admission to the events on Saturday is $10 for adults; $5 for kids 6-12, and free for kids age 5 and under. Admission to Sunday’s events will cost $5 per person.
Wristbands will be given and required for entering the events. The admission fee will include tours of all exhibits and buildings at the facility.
There have been several updates to the museum facilities which include a new cook shack roof, the repainting of the CCC building, and other updates to the grounds. Paine said the organization is working to place new wood siding on the historic McGruer House, the only original structure on the museum site.
Free parking is available on Saturday at the TASA snowmobile staging area directly across the railroad tracks on M-123. Between the hours of 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Dial-A-Ride will provide a shuttle service from the parking area to the museum. This aims to eliminate the congestion of parked vehicles along M-123.
The museum is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 28 through September 30.
For more information, contact the museum at 906-293-3700.
