Thursday, July 16

• 10th-Annual Talent Show - 6:30 p.m. at the SCF scenic overlook.
  Sponsored by Eagle Valley Bank. Call 483-3913 to register.

Friday, July 17

• Sidewalk Sales - All Day
• 90th-Anniversary Celebration - 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at St. Croix Regional Medical Center - FREE Lunch & Eagle Valley Bank - 1919 Root Beer Floats
• Kiddie Parade - 6:30 p.m. in Taylors Falls.
• Queen Coronation at SCF elementary gym.
  Little Miss at 7 p.m. & Miss St. Croix Falls at 8 p.m.
• Street Dance & Beer Tent in the Thompson Parkway. Beer Tent sponsored by SCF/TF Rotary
  & the Polk County Tavern League. Room for Gray at 7 p.m. and The Dweebs at 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 18

• Sidewalk Sales - All Day
• Car Show - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thompson Parkway. Brought to you by Johnson Motors.
• Bake Sale - 10 a.m. at Senior Center.
• Lions Parks Activities - See insert.
• Pork Chop on a Stick - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Senior Center.
• 3rd-Annual Tug of War - Noon to 3 p.m.
• St. Joe’s Eats - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Food Tent at St. Joe’s Catholic Church on Main Street, Taylors Falls.
• St. Croix River Bandits vs. Menomonie Eagles - 1 p.m. at St. Croix Falls High School field. FREE admitssion.
• FREE Wine Tasting - 3 to 5 p.m. at Indian Creek Grill & Winery in SCF. Donations will be accepted for Wannigan Days expenses.
• 51st-Annual Wannigan Days Parade - 6 p.m.
  Starts on the Main Street of St. Croix Falls and travels through Main Street Taylors Falls.
• Disco Inferno Family Funtime - DJ Street Dance - Games - Contests - Cake Walk at Thompson Parkway.
• Street Dances -
  • The Lost Boys at Romaynes, Taylors Falls • Monster of Mock at the Dalles House, St. Croix Falls
  • Hard Days Night at St. Croix Tavern, St. Croix Falls
• Fireworks at Dusk

Sunday, July 19

• Pancake Breakfast - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thompson Parkway. Sponsored by the SCF Fire Department.
• St. Croix Bandits vs. Hudson River Rats - 1 p.m. at St. Croix Falls High School field. FREE admission.

What is a Wannigan?

A Wannigan could be described as a house boat, but they were really more like floating shacks. They were built 25 to 30 ft. in length (some were bigger) and the cabin may be large enough just to accommodate a cook and some supplies. They were built low to the water for stability on quick running rivers.

In the days when the St. Croix was used as a logging route, Wannigans were used by the lumbermen. The "shanty-boat," which was much like houseboat, with sleeping accommodations for the loggers during the logging drives.

However, a true wannigan typically had an upper deck and was much more unstable. It would only be safe only in slow waters such lakes and calm rivers. These were generally maneuvered by poles and were popular for towing.

Wannigan Days celebrates the history of the St. Croix River Valley. St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls were busy stops for the men who worked the saws, logs, and the river.

Many times on the St. Croix River, the logs would get jammed tight into the many turns of the river.

Men had to be quick to blast the logs free to avoid a massive, and dangerous, jam that could halt all traffic on the river.

This was a scenario that happen from time to time. Many times the men would use dynamite to blast free the jam and get things moving again.