You Are Invited

Each Memorial Day weekend, the Southern U.S. World Championship Woodchopper title is won at the annual Webster County Wood Chopping Festival in Webster Springs West Virginia. This is my hometown and it brings in lots of tourist and woodchoppers from all over the world. The people of Webster County are a very friendly group of people. Each year The festival grows larger than the year before. It has began out of a long timbering heritage from which has come some of the finest woodchoppers and lumbermen in the world. The wood choppers come from as near as the wonderful scenic mountains of Webster County and as far away as Australia and New Zealand to compete for the title.

The hometown festival was the natural outgrowth of the very talented All around Champion, Arden Cogar, Arden Cogar Senior began competing in 1956. Since that time he has won 47 championship titles in the United States and Australia. The site for the wood chopping festival has been changed over the past but has now found its home in Webster Springs. In 1960 the Webster Springs Lions Club sponsored the first Wood Chopping event at Camp Caesar 4 H Camp. The festival was then moved to the Webster Springs area for two years. The festival moved again, this time to the Diana area for one year. The wood chopping festival has become a world renowned event

Webster Springs is the county seat of Webster County. It is placed near the center of the state of West Virginia. However it is hidden from the typical tourist who stays on the interstate route. Webster Springs is an hour drive away from any interstates. Thus it is still wild and wonderful.

May people who visit Webster County during the Wood Chopping Festival bring their campers and set up camp at Camp Caesar. Camp Caesar also has cabins for rent. However there is one hotel and one bed and breakfast in Webster County. There is also many camping sites that are available. Holly River State Park is located in Webster County and has cabins and camp sites available.

Accompanying the woodchopping contest are many exciting events such as the Sports Weekend Tournaments, Car and Truck Shows, Motorcycle Show, West Virginia State Firemen's Rodeo Championship, the Grand Feature Parade, Arts and Crafts Shows, and the West Virginia State Turkey Calling Championship, all in addition to live music concerts. The festival concludes on Sunday with a Gospel Sing and Fireworks display. These events, just to name a few, are only a highlight of the week long events that occur.

Webster County is know for its crafters from making baskets, quilts, to pottery and woodworking. There are many wonderful artists in Webster County as well. The Visitors Center located on main street in Webster Springs offers many of the local talents works for sale. Main street is not hard to find as Webster Springs only has one traffic light in the town. This single traffic light is also the only one in Webster County.

The Beautiful Elk river runs through Webster Springs and is a great source of fishing and wading as well as swimming.  The scenery is magnificent. It has lush trees and wildflowers.

 The mountains are just spectacular.  It is Filled with wildlife from squirrel, deer, turkey  to bear and everything in between.

The Webster County Woodchopping Festival offers something for everyone, no matter what your age is. So come out and join us, while you pick out your favorite timberman and cheer him on as you watch one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the world. The Webster County Wood Chopping Festival committee takes great pride in our festival and its family oriented atmosphere. Webster county is a wonderful place to spend time, both for you and your family .

This year the  Josh Stewart will be the parade marshall. Josh is a native of Webster county. He played as Officer Brendan Finney from Third Watch and as the broken hearted boyfriend who wanted his Levi's back in the Levi Commercial. He is currently playing in the FX networks hit series Dirt.

Hope to see you at the Webster County Woodchopping Festival.