By Ty Walker
The Mountain Times
The Sandy Invitational Chainsaw Carving and Forest Festival is returning for a second year with an action-packed day of timber-related activities June 1. This year looks to build on the success of the first year and be even bigger and better.
For starters, scheduling the event earlier this year, before fire season, should improve attendance.
With 20 professional and amateur chainsaw artists registered to compete this year, that more than doubles the number from last year, SICC Promoter Austin Ernesti said. He is the CEO of Trajectory NW, the nonprofit agency that puts on the event.
“It’s a city festival to celebrate timber and provide public education,” Ernesti said. “This is really about the city of Sandy, the people, the jobs and the companies that are here. It’s free to vendors.”
In fact, it’s free for anyone to attend. That’s just one of the things that makes Sandy Invitational Chainsaw Carving so “SICC,” as the kids like to say these days, meaning “excellent.”
Come watch woodchips fly as chainsaws turn large chunks of cedar into works of art. The saws roar to life starting at 8 a.m, and run all day until 6 p.m. at the city’s Farmers Market Square, 38600 Proctor Blvd. First-place and second-place cash prizes will be awarded to the top pros and amateurs, as well as crowd favorite prizes in each division. Top prize of $1,000 goes to the best pro carving, $500 to best amateur.
The 2024 SICC Forest Festival will showcase timber sports activities for adults and youth from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at a different site, 16640 Champion Way. You can participate or watch log birling, choker setting, double buck saw, obstacle poles and ax throwing.
There will be mass timber displays, mechanized demonstrations, educational booths and career opportunities on site. Nonprofit and trade vendors, loggers and carpenters will have booths to spread their message.
If you’re interested in becoming a vendor or donating to the event, see www.trajectorynw.org/sicc