North River, the tiny community 17 miles southeast of Cosmopolis, is gearing up for its 18th annual Saginaw Loggers Day on Saturday.

According to Doug Zepp, the event’s longtime emcee and unofficial historian, the idea was conceived when Joe Ring of Belfair visited the Brooklyn Tavern, which is known for its display of logging memorabilia and historic artifacts. Ring suggested to Ray Damitio, the tavern’s co-owner at the time, that they should stage a logging show next to his establishment.

Zepp and his brothers Dave and Don got involved right away, enlisting help from Port Blakely and other businesses to get things rolling. The inaugural event was held in 2000, and Port Blakely still donates the timber every year.

The event’s name is derived from the fact a large Saginaw Logging Co. camp operated there for many years, says committee member Maryann Welch.

What differentiates it from Loggers Playday, held just a week prior in Hoquiam?

“This show is open to non-professional competitors, not members of a circuit. Some may work in the woods or just be members of the community,” says Welch. “It is smaller, and the audience is close to the action.”

Zepp is quick to note that the committee gets plenty of support from the Playday folks in the form of advice and materials.

“We’re not fancy like the big guys, but they do help us out,” he says.

Welch adds that there’s plenty of opportunity for attendees to join the fun in North River.

“Community members and the audience are encouraged to participate in events such as the Ma and Pa bucking and the double bucking,” she says. “We had a guest from Ireland several years ago that was a tree surgeon, and he competed in some events and did well.”

Before the show, Zepp says, “the Grange ladies” will offer their annual pancake breakfast starting around 8 a.m. They also bake pies each year to be auctioned off to raise funds for the event.

The festival itself will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. There’s no admission fee, but donations are accepted to help offset costs.

Zepp says one of his fellow organizers handed him the mic in 2000, and he’s served as emcee every year since. “I didn’t have much choice in the matter, but it’s been a good thing,” he grins.

His favorite aspect of the event is the community support.

“Everybody comes out of the cobwebs and we get to visit,” he says. “You’ll never find a better group of people to be around.”

Zepp says this is the only logging show in the area that offers actual steam donkey demonstrations. It takes about 4.5 hours to fire it up beforehand, he adds.

Food vendors will serve up Italian sausage sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, Grange burgers, a variety of beverages and elephant ears.

Children’s activities also will be offered, including the annual treasure hunt — digging for coins and candy in haystacks.

The 2017 event is being dedicated to Ted Bridges, a longtime North River resident who died in January. He donated his time and his backhoe to the show every year from the very beginning, says Zepp, who intends to memorialize him on Saturday.

Larry Viguerie, who bought the Brooklyn Tavern in 2015, also has become involved in the event. He says the best part is “the kids seeing how logging works, and the older people reminiscing about their years in the industry.”

This is his first full year serving on the committee. In fact, he says many of its current members are fairly new at it. “We’re learning from the experience and will find out what we need to improve on next year,” he says.

“Larry’s not afraid to step up and help. He’s been great,” says Zepp.

For more information, visit saginawloggers.wixsite.com/brooklyn/saginaw-info.