The Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival is a community event that features a parade and logger-themed activities over the BC Day August long weekend.

It takes place in the town of Squamish which is in the Sea-to-Sky region about a 45-minute drive north of Vancouver.

NOTE: The main Sunday show at the festival is very popular and has sold out in the past. The Railway Museum of BC and Britannia Mine are close by and worth checking out while you’re in the area.

Other events that happen over the BC Day long weekend throughout the Lower Mainland are the Celebrate BC Festival, White Rock Sea Festival and Vancouver Pride Festival. See our article about BC Day Events or our July and August Calendar of Events to learn about these and other events on the same weekend. Continue reading to learn about the Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival.

This article contains the following information about the Squamish Days Festival:

Festival Activities | Thursday Events | Friday Events | Saturday Events | Sunday Events | Loggers Sports Show | Tips & Advice | More Information

Squamish Days Festival

The Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival takes place over four days on the August long weekend. In 2026, the event runs from Thursday, July 30th, to Sunday, August 2nd. It’s the festival’s 69th annual celebration.

Squamish Days features a mix of ticketed and free events, with the main loggers’ sports competitions held at the Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Grounds. The address is 39155 Loggers Lane. Additional events and activities, including parades, races, family programming, and food events take place at various locations throughout Squamish.

The events on the Thursday and Friday are free to attend. There are also some free events happening on the Saturday and Sunday. The things that require paid tickets are the two main Loggers Sports Shows as well as the pancake breakfast on Sunday morning. There are also Rotary Beef BBQs during the loggers shows on both Saturday and Sunday.

Festival Activities

The festival showcases logger sports, blending world-class competition with family-friendly entertainment. Spectators watch elite and up-and-coming athletes compete in traditional logger sports, from axe throwing to chainsaw racing.

The weekend days feature nonstop action, cash-prize competitions, licensed seating areas, and the famous Rotary Beef BBQ. Saturday highlights rising talent. Sunday showcases world-class competitors and championship events.

Below is the 2026 activity schedule. (Note: Exact details are subject to change.)

Thursday, July 30th, 2026

• Kettle Boil Challenge: The Squamish Days Festival officially kicks off with the Kettle Boil Challenge at the Squamish Valley Golf Course starting at 6:00 pm. Teams of two race to boil a can of soapy water over an open flame using only axes, cedar blocks, matches, and lung power. The event is free to watch.
• Lumberjack Chili Cook-Off Invitational: Running alongside the Kettle Boil Challenge at 6:00 pm, the Lumberjack Chili Cook-Off Invitational brings local restaurants together to showcase their best chili creations. Spectators can sample a variety of chilis and vote for their favourite. This event is free to attend, with tasting and voting available for a small fee.

Friday, July 31st, 2026

• Squamish Bed Races: Teams of five people race beds on wheels through a series of obstacles down Cleveland Avenue. The event is from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and is free to watch.

Saturday, August 1st, 2026

• Kids’ Festival: This free event is for children and takes place on Saturday morning. It runs from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Junction Park, 37950 Cleveland Avenue. Activities include craft tables, face painting, live entertainment, and other child- and young-family-focused activities.
• Novice & Intermediate Loggers Sports Show: A competition for near-beginner and non-professional logger sports participants happens at the Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Grounds. The show starts at 1:00 pm. General admission tickets cost about $9 for adults and $6 for seniors and children (ages 6 to 12). During the Loggers Sports Show, the festival’s Rotary Beef BBQ also takes place. (So if you attend the festival, you’re encouraged to bring along your appetite and some extra money!)
• Axe Throw Invitational: An event that’s free to watch at the Squamish Valley Golf Club. The show starts at 7:00 pm. Up to 32 entrants compete to see who’s the most accurate at throwing axes.
  

Sunday, August 2nd, 2026

• Pancake Breakfast: Pancakes with eggs and sausage are served at Chieftain Centre Mall between 8:00 am and 11:00 am. The cost is around $13 for adults and $8 for seniors and children ages 12 and under.
• Squamish Festival Parade: The parade starts at 11:00 am and goes down Cleveland Avenue, beginning at Vancouver Street and finishing at Pemberton Avenue. It’s a nice, pleasant parade that lasts about 20 minutes. It features logging trucks, bagpipers, community organization floats, and more.
• World-Class Open Loggers Sports Show: An international logging competition that features contestants from Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States. It happens at the Al McIntosh Loggers Sports Grounds at 39555 Loggers Lane. The event starts at 1:00 pm and general admission tickets cost about $17 for adults and $9 for seniors and children (ages 12 and under). More BBQ is sold during this day’s show. The event often sells out, so to avoid disappointment at the gate when you try and pay, it’s best to purchase tickets in advance.

World-Class Loggers Sports Show

A number of the events at Squamish Days are interesting and worth checking out. The main event, however, is the World-Class Loggers Sports Show, which takes place on Sunday afternoon. Thousands turn out for the world championship competitions, which are fun to watch for all ages.

At the World-Class Loggers Sports Show, there are axe-throwing contests, pole climbing races, log rolling competitions, saw cutting championships, and all kinds of logger sports-themed entertainment.

Tips & Advice

Below is a list of suggestions to help you make the most of your experience at the Logger Show.

TIP #1: Get to the event early to find good parking and a seat in the shade.

TIP #2: It can get hot in the stands. The shadiest spots are in the top seats in the middle and in the bleachers near the far end of the outdoor stadium.

TIP #3: Don’t forget your hat, water bottle, and sunscreen. Again, if the sun is out, it can get hot.

TIP #4: Great museums to check out while you’re in the area include Britannia Mine and the Railway Museum of BC. The first of these is about 15 minutes south of Squamish and open every day of the week. The museum about trains is only open one or two days a week in the summer.

Tips & Advice Continued

TIP #5: Have your mobile phone and social media tools handy. At the event, pretty good prizes are usually awarded to audience members, but in some years, you need to follow the announcer’s directions and post photos and other items as instructed.

TIP #6: Most of the competitions involve non-motor-powered saws and equipment. In the few cases where power saws are used, however, they can be really loud. Be prepared to cover sensitive ears. Some kids even bring earplugs and ear protectors.

TIP #7: There is usually a large bicycle parking area near the main gate on the grounds during the festival. Also, Squamish has a great paved cycling trail that goes right past the venue. If you can ride your bike to the logging competitions instead of driving, do it.

TIP #8: Try the Rotary Club’s BBQ Beef Sandwich if it’s available. It’s delicious and proceeds benefit worthwhile causes. The Rotarians usually sell out well before the end of the event. A good time to make your purchase is before 1:00 pm.

More Information

Click Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival for further details about this event.

Note: There is a lot to do nearby and on the way up from Vancouver. See our articles about Squamish or the Sea-to-Sky Region to learn more about the area.

Check out the July and August Calendars or click Festivals & Events for a list of other major Lower Mainland events at other times.

Click BC Day Holiday Events for ideas on other activities during the August long weekend.