Wannigan Days Events Schedule

>>Downloadable PDF Scheudule

Thursday, July 14

• ICCPA 15th Anniversary Coloring Contest- Root beer floats 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Once Upon a Mattress - 2 p.m. at Festival Theatre.
• 12th-Annual Talent Show - 6:30 p.m. at the SCF scenic overlook.
  Call Woody at 612-385-4598 to register.
• Fizz Kizer’s Honky Tonk Cafe with Alison Scott & Kevin Bowe -
  7:30 p.m. at Festival Theatre.

Friday, July 15

• ICCPA 15th Anniversary Coloring Contest- Cake, coffee & lemonade 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Sidewalk Sales - All Day
• Kiddie Parade - 6:30 p.m. in Taylors Falls. Registration begins 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 - 2 to 5 p.m. & Live Music 6:30 to 9 p.m. with Dave Frank
  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.
• Sew Good Improv Troupe - 9 p.m. at Festival Theatre.
• Street Dance & Beer Tent in the Thompson Parkway. Beer Tent sponsored by SCF/TF Rotary & the Polk County Tavern League. The Dweebs at 9 p.m.
• Be Moved by the River - Paddle the St. Croix. Sponsored by the St. Croix River Association.

Saturday, July 16

• Pancake Breakfast - Sponsored by the Rotary.
• Sidewalk Sales - All Day
• 5K & 1K Race - 7 a.m. Sponsored by Bont Chiropractic
  Contact Craig to sign up - 715-483-3913.
• Boss Grant “Johnny Cash Revue” - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Arts & Crafts Fair - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street, St. Croix Falls.
  Download application - Click Here.
• Lions Park Activities - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both Parks.
• 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.
• Medallion Hunt - 11 a.m. Register at Edina Realty 715-483-3833.
• Kiddie Pedal Pull - 10:30 a.m. Ages 4-12 FREE at Thompson Parkway. Registration at 10 a.m. Sponsored by Bont Chiropractic.
• FREE Wine Tasting - 11 to 5 p.m. & Live Music 6:30 to 9 p.m. with Dave Frank
  at Indian Creek Grill & Winery in SCF.
• Pork Chop on a Stick - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Senior Center.
• 5th-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 onMain Street, Taylors Falls.
• St. Croix River Bandits vs. River Falls - 1 p.m. at St. Croix Falls High School field. FREE admission.
• River City Cloggers - 1 p.m. at Thompson Parkway.
• 53rd-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.
  - To register for parade, download the Registration Form
• Louie Anderson Meet & Greet - at Festival Theatre following parade then to Thompson Parkway for the show. Download Louie Anderson Poster.
• Street Dances -
  • The Zebra Mussels at Romayne’s, Taylors Falls
  • Squib/Juizzy Blazz Shake Up/Mark Stary/Polk County Rockers at the Dalles House, SCF
  • Raging Wood at St. Croix Tavern, SCF
• Fireworks at Dusk

Sunday, July 17

• Pancake Breakfast - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thompson Parkway.
  Sponsored by the SCF Fire Department.
• Garden Tour - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of Taylors Falls Parks.
• St. Croix River Bandits vs. Menomonie Eagles - 1 p.m. at St. Croix Falls High School field. FREE admission.
• Charlie Maguire Concert - 2 to 3 p.m. at MN Interstate State Park.
• Once Upon a Mattress Princess & The Pizza Party - 2 p.m. at Festival Theatre.

Are you looking for things to do?

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.