Professional carvers show off chainsaw skills during month-long Maifest celebration

LEAVENWORTH – Coated in a layer of sawdust, Front Street buzzed with the sound of chainsaws over the May 18 and 19 weekend, as Maifest celebrations continued with live chainsaw carving.

Professional chainsaw carvers travelled from all over the Pacific Northwest to display their finest work and perform live demonstrations throughout the weekend, carving German-inspired creations near the Front Street Gazebo. The live demonstrations would draw a crowd of curious onlookers as the artists transformed a stump into a work of art in under 30 minutes. 

“I don't know [what I’ll carve] until I stand there and look at this little piece of firewood sitting in front of me,” said Bob “The Chainsaw King” King. “I’m actually so focused on what I've got going on. Once in a while, I look up to see who's out there, and it's really cool to see the crowds.”

Between demonstrations, AlpenFolk would balance the whirring of the machines with music of the alps, while carvers displayed their pieces for sale, ranging from small wall hangings to six-foot-tall award winning sculptures. The professional carvers often travel together to different competitions and shows throughout the PNW.  

“We're all our own entity, like each carver has their own product and stuff that we sell, but we all come together and put on a show,” said carver Garret Aries, who learned to carve from his dad and fellow live carver, George Kenny.

Throughout the summer, the professional carvers will have their masterpieces up for auction and on display at various locations around town. The Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce’s “Carving for Causes” silent auction will send all the proceeds to local nonprofits. Last year, the chamber directed its proceeds to Okandogs and the Royal Bavarians.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media