Paul Bunyan Days Celebration

Discover the History & Tradition of Paul Bunyan Days in St. Maries Every Labor Day weekend, the small logging town of St. Maries transforms into one of North Idaho’s most beloved celebrations — Paul Bunyan Days. What began as a community festival honoring the area’s deep logging roots has grown into a four-day tradition that draws thousands of visitors each year for parades, fireworks, logging competitions, live entertainment, and family fun. Now, this long-standing tradition is receiving statewide recognition. Paul Bunyan Days was recently named a 2026 Esto Perpetua Award honoree by the Idaho State Historical Society for preserving and celebrating Idaho’s living history and cultural traditions. A Celebration Rooted in Logging History Since 1968, Paul Bunyan Days has celebrated the hardworking logging heritage that helped build St. Maries and the surrounding region. Logging competitions, water events, tug-of-war contests, demolition derbies, carnivals, and the famous Labor Day parade continue to showcase the town’s blue-collar spirit and strong community pride. The festival now welcomes an estimated 27,000 visitors over the four-day weekend — remarkable for a historic town of just over 2,300 residents. One of the biggest highlights each year is the fireworks show, often described as one of the largest in the Northwest. Visitors also come for the classic small-town atmosphere, local vendors, live music, and the chance to experience a tradition that generations of families have attended together. Stay in the Heart of Historic St. Maries At St. Maries Riverfront RV Resort, guests are perfectly positioned to experience everything Paul Bunyan Days has to offer while enjoying the beauty and history of the town itself. Historic downtown St. Maries reflects the region’s rich timber and railroad heritage. The town was originally established around a sawmill in the late 1800s and later became an important railroad and logging hub for North Idaho. Today, visitors can still fee…