(File photo/northeastNOW Staff)

By Ben Tompkins

Fifth ever

Saskatchewan’s only chainsaw carving festival coming back to Manitou Beach

Aug 8, 2023 | 4:20 PM

For the fifth time ever, Saskatchewan’s only chainsaw carving festival will be held in Manitou Beach.

Ten of the best carvers from across the country (B.C. through Ontario) will be competing in the event, which runs this Thursday through Sunday (Aug. 10-13).

“We’ve got carvers that are well known across North America and they come back every year. We actually had a number of people that indicated an interest, but because of the space, we can only do 10 carvings in our compound, because we require a safe compound for the carving to be done and for patrons to observe them,” said committee member, Garry Jay.

The carvers will arrive on Wednesday evening and do a log selection, to see which giant piece of wood (roughly two feet across and 10-feet long) they can turn into their masterpiece.

They will have 30 hours to do so, with the time being broken up between Thursday, Friday and Saturday, along with any time before three in the afternoon on Sunday.

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“The selection of the winner is done through a ballot by those who attend, so it’s a People’s Choice and we’ve got a first, second and third. Then, the carvers also do a selection themselves of which sculpture they think is the best,” Jay added.

“There’s also a committee award that we on the committee select, and the carvings that are created remain in the community as works of art for our residents and visitors to enjoy for the next number of years.”

The festival is a biennial event, which last occurred in 2021, drawing a couple of thousand people.

Jay explained they are expecting that again, if not more, especially with their newest addition.

“We have what’s called a quick curve, so the carvers have an opportunity to take a smaller piece of wood and they have 90 minutes to create something else, which will then be silent auctioned off to those present, with the carver sharing a portion of the proceeds. So, not only do you have an opportunity to witness the carvings being created, but you also have an opportunity to take one home.”

Raffle tickets will also be sold throughout the weekend, with the winner of the draw taking home the first-place carving.

Jay described it as another way to share the quality of work being done, while also bringing in some funding to help with future community activities.

He told northeastNOW he’s quite excited for the festival, and that it seems like many others share in his feelings.

“There seems to be a lot of interest and we’re quite pleased with the feedback that we’re receiving about the quality of the carvers that are coming. People are amazed by the quality of the sculptures that are created; they are world-class.”

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