History of the Loggerodeo™
T
he World Famous Loggerodeo™ is Sedro-Woolley’s official Fourth of July celebration. It is the oldest Fourth of July celebration in the state. Independence Day festivities have been running since 1886, stopping only because of Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. The event has long brought community members past and present back together; many old timers who have moved away make trips back to town to visit with friends and family and share in the celebration. Over the years, the festivities have varied in length; 2021 will run July 1 through July 4. This is good, old-fashioned family fun, and a beautiful way to honor Sedro-Woolley’s logging history and small-town community feel. Loggerodeo™ president Dottie Chandler wishes to welcome the whole family and both new and old-timer 6 LOGGERODEO 2021
Sedro-Woolley residents to participate! This year will look a little different because of Covid-19 restrictions, so please read over the event schedule. It would also be a good idea to check the Loggerodeo™ website and Facebook page closer to the event for any other cancelations. Although the town of Sedro-Woolley was celebrating the Fourth of July long beforehand, 2021 marks the 72nd annual event called Loggerodeo™. The name Loggerodeo™ dates back to 1948 when John Conrad won a city-wide naming contest, sponsored by the returning World War II vets of the American Legion. He won a $25 cash prize. The year 1948 was special for the Loggerodeo™ as it was a merger of two celebrations that had often been run separately during the week of July 4: logging contests and a rodeo. Many old timers still say
that the 1948 event was the wildest Loggerodeo™ ever. A fireworks display was added along with the street dance in front of the Legion Hall on Murdock Street. The Ziegler Brothers Carnival had been introduced in 1946 and continued into 1948 and beyond. The year 1948 also marked the 50th anniversary of the merger of Sedro and Woolley towns, who had each previously had their own Independence Day celebrations. The original Sedro-Woolley rodeo was held in 1914 and consisted of riding, racing and roping exhibitions; it attracted ten thousand people from all parts of the Pacific Northwest. The rodeo continued on an irregular schedule until 1934 when community members decided to restore it at the grounds on Polte Road. The Rodeo expanded into a two-day event in 1946 and included calf and trick roping; bronco, steer and bareback riding; and Skagit Publishing
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