Wannigan Days Events Schedule

Thursday, July 15

• 11th-Annual Talent Show - 6:30 p.m. at the SCF scenic overlook.
  Sponsored by Eagle Valley Bank. Call 715-483-3913 to register.

Friday, July 16

• Sidewalk Sales - All Day
• Kiddie Parade - 6:30 p.m. in Taylors Falls. Registration begins Friday, 9 p.m. at 6:10 p.m. near the Catholic church.
• Bingo - 7 p.m. At the Taylors Falls Community Center. Sponsored by the Friends of Taylors Falls Parks.
• FREE Wine Tasting - 7 to 9 p.m. at Indian Creek Grill & Winery in SCF.
• 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. Out of the Blue at 7 p.m. and Uncle Chunk at 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 17

• Sidewalk Sales - All Day
• Arts & Crafts Fair - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street, St. Croix Falls.
• Car Show - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Thompson Parkway. Brought to you by Johnson Motors.
• Bake Sale - 10 a.m. at Senior Center.
• Farmers Market - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Open House - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. SCF Historical Society.
• FREE Wine Tasting - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Indian Creek Grill & Winery in SCF.
• The Whitesidewalls - Rock ‘n Roll Revue, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thomspon Parkway.
• Pork Chop on a Stick - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Senior Center.
• 4th-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. River Falls - 1 p.m. at St. Croix Falls High School field. FREE admission.
• Kiddie Pedal Pull - 2 p.m. Ages 4-12 FREE at Thompson Parkway. Sponsored by Bont Chiropractic.
• Camp We-Kan-Tak-It - 3:30 p.m. at St. Croix Festival Theatre. Call 715-483-3387 for details.
• 52nd-Annual Wannigan Days Parade - 6 p.m. Starts on the Main Street of St. Croix Falls and travels through Main Street Taylors Falls. Call Josh at Bank Mutual, 715-483-9808, to register.
• Wizard of Oz Family Funtime - Music - Games - Contests following parade on Thompson Parkway.
  Cake Walk, Sponsored by SCRMC Volunteer Partners, behind Pins ‘N Needles. .
• Street Dances -
  • The Lost Boys at Romayne’s, Taylors Falls
  • Monsters of Mock/Juizzy Blazz Shake Up at the Dalles House, SCF
  • 82nd Street Band at St. Croix Tavern, SCF
• Fireworks at Dusk

Sunday, July 18

• Pancake Breakfast - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thompson Parkway. Sponsored by the SCF Fire Department.
• St. Croix River Bandits vs. Hudson River Rats - 1 p.m. at St. Croix Falls High School field. FREE admission.
• Mayor’s Golf Classic - St. Croix Valley Golf Course. Call 715-483-3377 to register. Check in 11 a.m. Shotgun start at noon.
• Red, White & Tuna - 2 p.m. at Festival Theatre. Call 715-483-3387 for details.

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.