Lumberjack Days Is Gone, But Vintage Baseball, Ice Cream Social And Talent Show Live On
The Stillwater City Council unanimously voted to terminate the contract with the Lumberjack Days Festival Association Tuesday night, but community events like the ice cream social, talent show and vintage baseball tournament are here to stay.
Say goodbye to Lumberjack Days.
The Stillwater City Council on Tuesday night unanimously voted to end the contract with the Lumberjack Days Festival Association.
The vote came about two months after the city suspended the contract due to allegations—and civil judgments—stating the festival association did not pay vendors and nonprofit organizations for services rendered.
"Lumberjack Days is dead as we've known it. This is the day the music died,” Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki told the Star Tribune Tuesday night. “I don't believe it's coming back anytime soon."
But for the Stillwater residents who enjoy vintage baseball, ice cream socials and talent contests the song remains the same.
What used to be known as the Lumberjack Days Kick-off event will now be called the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social and Amateur Talent Show, Historic Courthouse Coordinator Carolyn Phelps said.
“It will be exactly like what we did before,” she said. “We’re still going to do our thing and we will continue to do it no matter what happens with Lumberjack Days in the future. It’s a great family and community event and we have no intent of dropping it.”
This year’s event is scheduled for Wednesday, July 18.
The same goes for the Washington County Historical Society’s vintage baseball tournament.
The vintage baseball tournament will still happen Saturday, July 21 at the old athletic field, said Brent Peterson, executive director of the Washington County Historical Society. The historical society did not receive money from Lumberjack Days—the event was always just put on the calendar.
So far, six teams are signed up for the tourney.
Harycki said on Tuesday night that he isn’t in favor of supporting another major festival anytime soon, but said there will be a public hearing to discuss it.
In This article
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Historic Courthouse
101 Pine St W, Stillwater, MN -
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Washington County Historical Society Museum
602 Main St N, Stillwater, MN
Edward
8:06 pm on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The St. Croix Base Ball Club, a program of the Washington County Historical Society that plays by the rules of 1860, is the reigning vintage base ball champions of Minnesota -- for more information about the club visit the Historical Society's website at www.wchsmn.org!! "For the Glory of the Game!"
Matt
12:17 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Vintage Baseball, Ice Cream Social and a Talent Show? Quick! Someone raise Normal Rockwell from the grave!
Maren Smith
5:59 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
sounds great!! i like to keep it small and local! How about reviving the Kiddie Parade?? It was one of my favorite things to do as a kid! I would be willing to volunteer :)
Jesse Kurtz
3:57 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
You could help set this up for us if you wish. We will have a spot for you on our web site. We need to get his past the council first, so call in or better yet, show up at the meeting on Tuesday.
Kristen Wesloh
5:59 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
What about the medallion hunt? I was so close last year ; - )
Samantha
4:18 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sad, What is the world coming to? Lumber Jack Days is a staple in our lives every summer, and frankly some of the best FAMILY memories we have! I am sure the real reason has to do with the weak city council and the weakest mayor ever... Must be nice to get elected and then screw everyone over because you can't organize an event! Go back to college and update your public services education! LOSER! Where's DAVE JUNKER? He wouldn't let this happen... I hope he reads this and runs for mayor again and BRING BACK LUMBER JACK DAYS!
Jesse Kurtz
4:09 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Hi Samantha, This is Jese Kurtz, owner of Valley Promotions and the organizer of Stillwater River Days. Please keep in mind that we cannot use the name "Lumberjack Days" as our event because of trademark and other legal issues. I assure you that our event will be every bit as fun and more. We are adding many more events that are family and still keeping the evening for a more adult audiance. We are adding much more security so as to have more control for people who do not want to play by our rules. Please follow and support us as we try to get the City Councils nod for our event. Call the council and be at the meeting Tuesday night 7:00.
Randy Marsh
4:32 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Wow, I thought Eckberg was a snake oil salesman. Are you sure you didn't intern under Eckberg, Jesse? You feel comfortable assuring us that this event will be every bit as fun and more. I seriously doubt that, especially if you're trying to make it family friendly. That might be fun for some, excruciatingly annoying for others. How could your event not be fun with all that security (I think you mean "much more" costly) around making sure that everyone behaves? I think your ambitious statements simply show that you have no idea what you're getting into.
Shawn Hogendorf
4:39 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Interesting you say this, Samantha. I just met with Jesse Kurtz who is working to get Council approval to put on a summer festival called Stillwater River Days. He's hoping people call City Hall if you support his festival. Here's a link with some info: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=313111765418084&id=291981260864468
Jesse Kurtz
5:28 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
Hi Randy, thanks for your up-beat comments and constructive comments. You seem to know much more than us. Why someone make comments such as you have baffles me. You must be a hate filled person to do this. I believe you are part of the reason that we should have more security at events such as this. It always seems that when people are enjoying themselves most, someone like you comes along and ruins it.
Randy Marsh
8:37 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
I'm a realist, Jesse, and I can assure you my police record is spotless. Perhaps you can clue us all in as to your prior success in organizing something larger than a birthday party. You seem to think you can reinvent this wheel despite no apparent financial support to date nor any events or activities lined up and yet are assuring concerned individuals that you will enlist a gestapo-like security force to ensure everyone "plays by your rules". Have you determined yet who will be on the hook for all those costs in providing all that entertainment and security when you don't sell enough cotton candy and dippin' dots to cover even a modest sized event? Then again, perhaps I'm mistaken in thinking you don't also control the weather. I'd love to hear more and certainly hope for the success of any event, but you sound more like a 9 year old kid who has no idea what he's getting into. I hope you prove me wrong. Good luck.
Shawn Hogendorf
9:06 pm on Sunday, March 4, 2012
We'll have a story on this event this week, Randy. Perhaps that will answer some of your questions. If it doesn't, as Jesse said, he is also going to present his idea in front of the City Council on Tuesday, which would be another venue to ask questions.