Owensboro will host the first-ever Bluegrass Chainsaw Showdown the weekend of November 10. The chainsaw competition featuring 10 artists from all over the U.S. will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Riverfront.
The competition marks the first of its kind for western Kentucky, as the carvers have 20 hours to convert a 7-foot log into a masterpiece. The artists will also compete in two quick carve competitions – limited to one hour.
Philpot’s Barry Raymer is a local firefighter and avid chainsaw artist and competitor. After traveling for various competitions, he decided to bring a competition to the tristate. The hometown boy will compete against Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, and Texas carvers.
“We had been to several shows, but we had to travel so far because there isn’t anything like this in the area,” Raymer said. “I contacted a few people, and it grew from there. I contacted the Holiday Inn, and after they said they were all in, we got the ball rolling.”
Attendees can watch the artists work all day long and have an opportunity to purchase the creations in a public auction. The carving will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.
“We’re only having 10 contestants this year, keeping it small to see how things go,” he said. “We aim to have 20-25 carvers next year and a much larger event.”
Glowing Jacks Carvings and LinGate Hospitality are partnering to host the event with the help of Maxwell Lumber, Hagan’s Outdoor Equipment, and more. Funds raised from the auction will benefit the local Christmas Wish Foundation.
