My dad grew up among the 1930's lumberjacks so I heard alllllll of the stories about them. Most of them not exactly angelic by any stretch of the imagination.
Our towns up here came into existence due to the lumber companies and we've preserved that history, so I was stoked when a client approached me to throw a lumberjack themed birthday party for her son. I ran a few ideas past her. We agreed to hold the party at my house due to the fact my idea for staging involved covering a wall in peel and stick wallpaper and I didn't want to do that on anyone's wall but my own - just in case. She also felt the boys would love to go swimming in the lake.
invitations
Cody's invitations were a combination of computer graphics and scrapbooking embellishments.
​
I got a photo of Cody in his lumberjack costume and featured that on the front of the invitation.
I dropped out the photo background, then cut him out with an Exacto knife.
I attached both him and the tree stump with glue dots to give the invitation some depth.
​
The red flannel background is scrapbookiing paper.
I printed the rest of the invitation out on white computer paper and glued that to the red flannel paper.
The inside of the invitation contained the party information on white paper glued over the red flannel paper.
staging & Props
The only things I bought for the focal wall were peel and stick log cabin wallpaper and the old rocker at a flea market for $30. The rest came from my house or was built from corrugated and a couple of carpet rolls for the support pillar. I did borrow the deer head mount and bearskin from my old neighbor.
I used to have 2 woodstoves in my house so the woodstove vent pipe is actual vent pipe.
​
Making the faux tree stump is easy. It's an upside down bucket covered with spray foam insulation that's allowed to harden. You can sculpt it as you feel necessary as the foam hardens. Then paint it. Use a thin round piece of plywood for the top, glue it on to the top of the bucket or you can buy a craft wood slice and use that.
I just added touches of lumberjack around the rest of the living room. I bought red buffalo plaid fabric and made the tablecloth and throw pillows. I removed the drop leaf table from between the furniture and added another faux tree stump with another lantern on it. The one unique thing I did was add a lumberjack tree. (Trees don't have to be just for Christmas!) Lumberjacks are all about trees!
The banner I made from printed computer cardstock.
I set up a couple more of my Christmas trees and left them undecorated. I had a lumberjack nutcracker in my Christmas decorations so used that on the coffee table. I removed the modern living room lamp and replaced it with a lantern. I bought the throw pillow out of my own pocket (because it has my name on it), $28 from Zazzle.
My tablecloth is exactly like the one at left - wood plank. Perfect for a lumberjack party.
I had a wood toolbox planter I'd made when I first began woodworking and filled that with pine cones and evergreen sprigs for the table centerpiece.
​
I found 6 chair back covers for $29 at TK Accessorie Shop. (No longer available)
They were designed for Christmas so I cut the white pom poms off of them.
The last thing I did for the dining table was cut 6 slices off a log to use as 'placemats' and sand them smooth. However, you can buy these at Walmart, Amazon or any craft store.
food/menu
As one might imagine, lumberjacks were hearty eaters. Staples in their diets included foods like chili, beef stew, pancakes, cornbread and the like.
​
I'm not much of a beef stew eater but there's only one beef stew that I really like and it slow cooks for 4 hours, which makes it easy for a party. Since Cody had a fall birthday I also made a batch of chili ahead of time and froze it for the day of the party.
BEEF STEW RECIPE
2 lbs. beef stew meat in 13x9 pan
1 medium onion
1 stalk celery cut diagonally in 1-1/2" pieces
6 carrots cut diagonally 2" long (I just use whole baby carrots)
Little white/gold potatoes, as many as you like, cut in half OR use quartered regular potatoes
Add to pan: 2 t. salt
1 T. sugar
2 T. raw tapioca beads
Mix those 3 ingredients together, sprinkle over ingredients in pan.
Add 1/2 c. V8 juice (I use more than 1/2 cup to taste)
Cover tightly with tin foil. Bake at 250 degrees for 4 hours.
CORNBREAD See recipe
CHILI See recipe Serve with Fritos, chopped raw onion, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream on the side.
​
VEGGIE TREE
I made this for a Christmas party one year. You can make it look less Christmasy for a lumberjack party.
You'll need a styrofoam cone from a craft or dollar store and a box of sturdy round toothpicks that are sharpened at both ends. You simply start at the base of the cone, inserting veggie pieces on toothpicks into the styrofoam cone, working your way to the top until the whole cone is covered in veggies. I arranged cheese cubes and other veggies in a tray around the tree, with little serving cups of Ranch dressing.
​
TRAIL MIX
You can use small party favor boxes or bags but I just used quart zipper Ziploc bags for the boys to put their trail mix in. (The zippered bags help ensure the boys get them closed properly)
​
TREE RINGS See recipe
activities
lumberjack steam train & camp 5 lumber camp
Near me is a Lumberjack steam train and the Camp 5 Lumberjack Camp.
This is where we started our party, with the boys riding the train to Camp 5.
The “4-spot” Steam Locomotive, built in 1916 pulls two all-steel passenger coach cars, an open air observation car and three cabooses. The “4-spot” is the only “PRAIRIE” style steam locomotive operating in the state of Wisconisn.
A ticket on the Lumberjack Steam Train takes you out to “Camp 5”, the site of an old logging camp.
Later it became the site of the Lumber Company Farm. When you arrive, you find some of the old buildings which were a part of the Lumber Company Farm. There is the old Hog Barn which is now the Petting Corral, the Blacksmith Shop which is now a part of the Museum, and the Old Slaughter House. In the distance is the old Boarding House and several original barns, as well as the “Woods Boss’s House”.
The ticket is all-inclusive and includes the round-trip ride on the Lumberjack Steam Train and admission into the Logging Camp Complex of historic and natural attractions, including the Logging Museum and Blacksmith Shop, Green Treasure Forest Tour, Animal Barn and Corral, the Nature Center, Cracker Barrel Store and Choo Choo Hut Restaurant.
We qualified for the family rate of $70 for all of us.
This allowed us to buy lunch for the boys at the Choo Choo Hut - pizza and drinks by popular consensus.
​
​The boys said they had a really good time learning what life for lumberjacks in the camps was like and especially in the petting zoo and the train ride. We spent the majority of the day at the camp.
​
I'd be serving them dinner around 5:00 that evening. While my client and I prepared the boys' dinner, they went swimming in the lake.
​
After dinner, we took them to our local lumberjack show. (We have world lumberjack champions in the show so it's a really good show.)
​
The following video was shot of a Maine logging
Choo Choo Hut Restaurant
operation but the same methods were used here in the Northwoods.
And here's our local lumberjack show...
Now the show would cost the group of us $123.60 to attend. Back then it wasn't nearly as much so my client really didn't spend all that much on the party for a full day and evening of lumberjacking activities for 6 kids.
​
other activities
Lumberjacks lived a very physical life so you want your activities to reflect this. Fashion activities after things the lumberjacks actually did - besides passing out drunk in snowbanks, that is.
For log jousting, purchase a soft jousting set or use soft jousting "lances" like pool noodles and have the kids balance as they're jousting.
Set up a target and have an ax throwing contest.
Amazon sells sets of foam hatchets.
​
To simulate lumberjack log running, make a DIY balance beam close to the ground and see which child can run it the fastest. (You can top it with styrofoam or foam to make it soft).
You can buy soft Tumbler Trak gymnastic training beams but they'll run you $100 each.
​
Another activity lumberjacks engaged in was tug of war.
Divide your guests up into 2 teams, tie a bandanna in the middle of a rope, mark out a line to cross and let the 2 teams tug it out.
​
Put a lumberjack spin on the game Musical Chairs. Set up stumps as chairs and play some lumberjack music.
Music for kids
Music for adults
Log Rolling: Set up a log rolling area, either with a real log or a foam one, and have guests compete to see who can stay on the longest. To make your lumberjack theme party even more unique, set up a kiddie pool or a designated area with some water and two logs, and have your guests compete to see who can stay on the log the longest without falling off. Not only is this a fun activity that will get everyone laughing and cheering, but it also pays homage to the skills that real lumberjacks use every day. Just make sure to have towels and dry clothes on hand for anyone who takes an unexpected dip in the water!
​
A lumberjack theme party is all about embracing the rugged and outdoorsy spirit of these hard-working folks. Whether you're chopping wood, roasting marshmallows, or just enjoying the company of good friends, a lumberjack party is sure to be a memorable and fun-filled experience.