Foley Fun Days Swings Into Action: Beards, Blue Oxen, and a Whole Lotta Logging

(KNSI) — Foley Fun Days has way too much planned Monday for visitors to saw logs in the figurative sense.

Instead, organizers are planning on doing it literally. Juanita Beauchamp says the festival schedule will be full of the city’s foresting legacy. “One of the big things that we have coming is the lumberjack show. They’ll be doing three performances throughout the day. We also have the beard judging contest.”

Continuing with the theme, Beauchamp welcomes people to let their imaginations run wild with a visit from one of America’s most popular folk tales. “Babe the Blue Ox, that’s something that is sponsored by the library.”

Babe, of course, in legend, is the pal of giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan.

Foley was settled by four brothers in the 1800s from Ontario, Canada. They made their riches in the lumber business. Eventually, the logging and sawmill industry gave way to more practical uses. Mills made wood kegs for the beer business, and grocers shipped fruit, coffee, and several other products in wood pails.

Outdoor fun not involving flannel includes a sidewalk sale downtown from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., the 5K run/walk, and a performance by the band Radio Nation. Foley Fun Days runs until Wednesday, capped off by the Grand Parade.

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