This is the time of the year when you’ll find lots of festivals centered around apples, pumpkins and fall colors. Crystal Lake wanted to do something a little bit different.
“We’re always looking for unique events that are not done in our area,” said Jacqui Weber, marketing coordinator of the Crystal Lake Park District. “A couple of years ago I found out about lumberjack shows in Wisconsin. ‘I thought, instead of your typical fall festival, this might be something fun and unique that you don’t really see much around here.'”
And so the idea for Flannel Fest was born.
The first-time event in Crystal Lake, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 22, will celebrate all things lumberjack, in addition to providing other festival staples like food trucks and live music.
The featured events of the festival will be performances by the Timberworks Lumberjack Show. Based in Hayward, Wisconsin, this touring group of lumberjacks will offer demonstrations and contests in traditional competitions like log rolling, bucksawing and log climbing.
“They bring their own stage and own pool and set up everything they need to perform,” Weber said. “It’s an amazing show, seeing what these guys can do.”
Timberworks will offer three shows at the festival, starting at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. There will also be other lumberjack-themed activities, such as ax throwing, which will be free and available from noon to 4 p.m.
“It will be set up for anyone to give it a try,” Weber said.
Food trucks on site will include Stix and Noodles, My Sister’s Tomato, Kissed by Fire, Julie Anne’s Custard, Dunkin’ Donuts Cider Donuts, and the Beef Jerky Experience. A beer tent will offer refreshments throughout the day, while other vendors on site will be offering arts and crafts for sale.
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Live music kicks off the festival with a performance by singer/guitarist Josh Skaja at 10 a.m., while the band Third Coast Bluegrass will take the stage at 1:30 p.m.
The festival will feature a kids’ corner with all kinds of activities for the little ones, and at 11:30 a.m., a birds of prey raptor show will highlight the skills of some large and talented birds.
“Apart from the lumberjack show, we’ve got all kinds of activities throughout the day,” Weber said. “There will be plenty of things to keep you busy.”
That includes a “best beard” contest at noon and pie eating contest at 12:30 p.m., both of which are open to anyone who signs up in advance.
“We have five judges from local barber shops as judges,” Weber said. “We’ll do the best beard, longest beard and the best mustache as categories.”
The festival, which takes place on Crystal Lake Main Beach, is a way to take advantage of the park during a less-busy time of year.
“We’ve got all kinds of events in the summer, but this is still a great time of the year to be outside,” Weber said. “I think this is a great way to take advantage of the park in a way we haven’t done so before.”
Flannel Fest
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 22
Where: Crystal Lake Main Beach, 300 Lakeshore Drive, Crystal Lake
Tickets: Adults: $10-$12; students (age 6-17): $5-$7; children 5 and under are free
Information: 815-459-0680; crystallakeparks.org
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.