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As the sun began to set over the Rockies on Thursday, the sounds of chainsaws firing up filled the air at Centennial Park in Frederick as the town closed its second day of the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons Festival.
The festival features artists from across the U.S. and around the world displaying their unique skill of carving wood logs with chainsaws. Through a variety of techniques and equipment, the carvers create amazing pieces of work such as a giraffe, a lion, the elusive Sasquatch and more.
Carver Niels Ejnar Petersen, 57, flew all the way from Denmark just to attend. As visitors watched, Petersen worked on his carving — a mama and baby mountain goat balancing on a ledge.
As Philip “Blacka” Kajemusuk, from Boulder, worked on his piece, a lion and baby cub, his father-in-law, John Rozga, manned a booth that featured dozens of smaller pieces Kajemusuk created such as sea turtles, bald eagles and different breeds of dogs.
“He is the most humble man. We never even knew he did this for quite some time after he was with our daughter. Then I saw his creations, and they are all just so amazing,” Rozga said. “He and his family are from Sudan, and they live in Boulder. He’s done this festival for several years.”
The festival kicked off on Wednesday with carvers choosing the logs for their masterpieces that will be displayed on the event’s final day.
“They gave him a log, and the first thing he did was lay it down. I was thinking, ‘What are you doing?’ because we had no idea what he was going to do,” Rozga said. “Some people draw it out or use little models, but he does everything in his head. He just freestyles it; it’s really amazing.”
Visitors have the opportunity to take a piece of the festival home with them as many of the carvers featured premade works of art for purchase.
Attendees could also bid on pieces created in the festival’s Quick Carving events, which challenge artists’ skills by asking them to compete against the clock to create a smaller carving. Artists have 60 minutes to do their quick carve, and pieces are then auctioned off to audience members.
Visitors interested in participating in the auction can pick up an auction paddle at the town of Frederick tent at the festival.
“You can watch the carvers as they do it; it’s super fun to watch,” festival volunteer Paul Meier said. “I’m an artist as well, and the artwork that you see them doing, it’s neat to see — and to see people’s reactions is fun, too.”
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Festivalgoers watch a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carver Justin Driver works during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carver Justin Driver works during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carver Joe Srholez works during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carvers Molly Wise, right, and Joe Srholez, left, work during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carver Joe Srholez works during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carver Justin Driver works during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carver Joe Srholez works during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carvings for sale are seen at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
FREDERICK, CO - JULY 21:Carver Blacka (DJ Wood) works during a “quick carve,” where carvers have 60 minutes to complete a piece, at the 10th annual Chainsaws and Chuckwagons festival at Centennial Park in Frederick July 21, 2022. The event features woodcarvers from around the world for competitive chainsaw wood carving, an axe-and-lumber-sports show, food trucks and more. (Alex McIntyre/Staff Photographer)
The festival is set to run through 7 p.m. Saturday at Centennial Park, 630 8th St. with more shows from the Axe Women of Maine, carvers working on their final masterpieces and quick carvings, food trucks and more.
Parking and admission for the Chainsaws and Chuckwagons Festival are free, and the event is open to all ages. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are also welcome.
For more information on the festival, carver bios, schedule of events and other FAQs, go to bit.ly/3PpTX5b.
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