Paul Bunyan’s legend is
celebrated each year in Akeley with a town festival in his honor.
This year’s 58th annual Paul Bunyan Days was held June
23-25 with a variety of activities for the whole family.
Visitors to Akeley
often stop to have their picture taken by the Paul Bunyan statue
located along Hwy. 34.
Known locally as "Paul’s Patio”, this area is the site of
many of the weekend’s activities.
Events
The legendary lumberjack was feted in Akeley once again this summer Friday, June 23 through Sunday, June 25 in the 58th annual Paul Bunyan Days.
The schedule of events included a carnival, parades, games for kids and adults, a pie social, treasure hunt, kids fishing contest, mini tractor pull, dances for teens and adults with great food, a beer garden, flea market and crafters, live music and many prizes awarded.
The Akeley Lions hosted a fish fry from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday on Paul's Patio with a kids' ice cream eating contest at 6:30 p.m., hosted by Em's Coffee and Deli.
Face Painting at 7:00pm at Paul's Patio.
Games of bingo will began at 7:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center. A teen dance was held on the patio from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., compliments of the Eastern Hubbard County Fire Department. Kelly's Party to Go provided tunes.
A money hunt for kids was held from 4 to 10 p.m.
Friday, 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday next to Paul's Patio.
Saturday, little pirates were invited for a treasure hunt, beginning at 10 a.m. on Paul's Patio. Sample homemade pie beyond compare at the pie social,
was held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Center. Turtles were on the starting line for races at noon on Paul's Patio. Entry
was $1 with turtles provided. Registration began at 11 a.m. A cakewalk, hosted by Akeley Fire and Rescue, was under way at 1 p.m., also at the patio.
Kids, grabbed a parent, a life jacket and their rods and reels and headed on down to the pier for the kiddie
fishing tourney held from 2 to 3 p.m. Bait was furnished, prizes awarded.
Horseshoes were tossed from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Akeley
VFW.
At 5 pm. lineup for the kiddie parade began at the First
National Bank parking lot. The Broadway entertainers
received prizes for the most colorful, original and humorous
with goodie bags for all. The parade began at 5:30 pm.
At 6:30 pm. Akeley's new monarchs were crowned in the Little Mister, Little Miss and Miss Teen Akeley contests. Each contestant presented talent. Candidates were selling buttons for $1, entering purchasers in a drawing for prizes.
North Star Entertainment staged live pro wrestling from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Akeley Regional Community Center
(ARCC).
Trip the light fantastic from 9
p.m. to 1 a.m. on the patio. Billy D and the Crystals provided musical entertainment.
Sunday's sunrise was met with pancakes sizzling at the Akeley VFW, served from 8 to 11 a.m.
Line-up for the grand parade began at 11:30 a.m. with the majestic parade heading down Broadway at 1 p.m. After the parade,
all headed to the patio for an ice cream and pie social. Frankly Country entertained
the crowd. Drawings were held for prizes.
At 2 p.m. the fire hall was the place to be. A competitive kids tractor pull put you in the driver's seat for fame and prizes.
Crescent City Amusements, provided rides and games and was open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Boy Scout Troop 40 invited ball tossers to saturate volunteers in the dunk tank all three days.
A beer garden was open throughout the weekend.
