A Tradition Rooted in the North Country
For nearly eight decades, the New York State Woodsmen’s Field Days has celebrated the skill, strength, and heritage of the forest industry, bringing generations of competitors, families, exhibitors, and spectators to Boonville each summer.
Returning August 21–23, 2026, to the Boonville-Oneida County Fairgrounds, this beloved North Country tradition is now in its 79th year and remains one of the most recognized forestry and lumberjack events in the country. What began in 1948 as a tribute to the working woodsman has grown into a full weekend of competition, demonstrations, exhibits, entertainment, and community pride.
At the center of the weekend are the woodsmen competitions, where athletes bring the tools and techniques of the forestry trade into the grandstand arena. Crowds gather to watch events that require power, precision, balance, and speed, from axe throwing and crosscut sawing to log rolling, speed climbing, log skidding, and other traditional lumberjack contests. This year’s event will once again feature both the World’s Open Lumberjill Championship and the New York State Open Lumberjack Championship, showcasing top competitors and keeping these time-honored skills alive for new generations.
But Woodsmen’s Field Days is more than a competition. It is also one of the region’s great summer gatherings, with more than 200 forest industry exhibitors, equipment displays, chainsaw carving, safety demonstrations, vendors, food concessions, children’s activities, community events, and plenty to explore throughout the fairgrounds. Visitors can see the latest in forestry equipment and tools, watch live demonstrations, browse artisan and industry vendors, and learn more about the forest products industry that has long shaped the economy and identity of northern New York.
The weekend also has a strong family tradition. For many, Woodsmen’s Field Days is an annual homecoming — a chance to meet friends, bring the kids, walk the grounds, cheer from the grandstand, and spend a summer day in the Adirondack foothills. From professional loggers and foresters to campers, hunters, woodworkers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families looking for something different to do before summer winds down, the event continues to draw people who feel connected to the land, the work, and the culture of the North Country.
Part of what makes Woodsmen’s Field Days so special is that it honors both the past and the present. The weekend celebrates the rugged traditions of the lumberjack while also highlighting today’s forest industry, from modern equipment and safety practices to the people and businesses keeping the work moving forward. It is entertainment, education, competition, and heritage all in one place.
Gates open daily at 8 a.m., rain or shine, with free parking available. Admission includes access to the grandstand events, and visitors are encouraged to check the official website for schedules, ticket information, camping details, and event updates.
Whether you go for the championships, the exhibits, the parade, the kids activities, the food, or simply the chance to experience one of the North Country’s most enduring summer traditions, the New York State Woodsmen’s Field Days remains a true August classic.
NYS Woodsmen’s Field Days
August 21–23, 2026
Boonville-Oneida County Fairgrounds
Boonville, NY
Gates open daily at 8 a.m.
WoodsmensFieldDays.com
