Webster County Woodchopping Festival 2026

Every Memorial Day weekend, the hills around Webster Springs fill with the ring of axes and the roar of chainsaws as competitors from across the country descend on Bakers Island Recreation Area for one of West Virginia's most distinctive celebrations: the Webster County Woodchopping Festival.

Running since 1956, this is one of the longest-running competitive lumberjack events in the eastern United States. It's also genuinely fun — equal parts athletic competition, county fair, and old-time mountain homecoming.

What to Expect

The festival spans five days of competition and community events, with woodchopping and sawing contests at its core. Watch world-class competitors go head-to-head in standing block chop, underhand chop, single buck sawing, springboard chop, and log rolling. These aren't hobbyists — some of the top competitive lumberjacks in North America make the trip to Webster Springs.

Beyond the Competition

Alongside the main event, the festival hosts a full slate of supporting competitions and events: a car and truck show, motorcycle show, the West Virginia State Firemen's Rodeo Championship, West Virginia State Turkey Calling Championship, arts and crafts vendors, fair food, and live music concerts each evening. The Grand Feature Parade is a crowd favorite, and the festival wraps Sunday evening with a Gospel Sing and fireworks display over the Elk River.

Don't Miss

• The underhand block chop — watching competitors lie on a log and chop toward their feet is equal parts terrifying and impressive
• The WV State Firemen's Rodeo Championship — firefighting competition at its most athletic
• Sunday's Gospel Sing and fireworks finale over the Elk River valley
• The arts and crafts vendors for locally made mountain goods

Getting There / Practical Info

Bakers Island Recreation Area is located in Webster Springs, WV (Webster County) along the Elk River. Webster Springs is roughly 90 minutes from Elkins, 2 hours from Charleston, and 2.5 hours from Morgantown. Admission is $5. The festival runs Wednesday through Sunday over Memorial Day weekend, with most major competitions Thursday through Saturday.