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This weekend

It's a big week for big festivals.

Lumberjack World Championships in Hayward, Wis. You can't see this kind of thing just anywhere: cut-throat log rolling, boom running, springboard chopping and speed climbing (pictured) in competitions between the best modern-day jacks and jills. July 25-27. For more, see Hayward's lumberjacks.

Nordic Fest in Decorah, Iowa. Ole and Lena host this friendly, authentic, very fun and very large festival of Scandinavian culture. The parade, one of the region's best, is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. July 24-26. For more, see Nordic nirvana.

Three lakeside festivals in Clear Lake, Iowa. They're all in the pretty City Park of this northern Iowa town: Iowa Storytelling Festival, July 25-26, Art Sail juried show, July 26, and DixieFest, July 26-27.

Kickapoo Country Fair in La Farge, Wis. The festival in this hotbed of sustainable living features music, food, children's activities and a workshop and talk by pioneering author Frances Moore Lappé. July 26-27.

Lumberjack Days in Stillwater, Minn. This massive festival takes over the pretty St. Croix River town with lumberjack and dog shows and big musical acts (Soul Asylum, Bodeans, Boz Scaggs). An 1860s baseball festival starts at 11 a.m. Sunday and the big parade at 1:02  p.m. Sunday. July 23-27.

Waterama in Glenwood, Minn. This festival on the shores of Lake Minnewaska is famous for its lighted pontoon parade, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by fireworks. At 1 p.m. Sunday, there's a parade on land, followed by a 3:30 p.m. water-ski show. July 24-27.

Blueberry Arts Festival in Ely, Minn., and Blueberry Festival in Lake George, Minn. Music, food and fun in Ely, gateway to the Boundary Waters, and Lake George, gateway to Itasca State Park. July 25-27.

North Star Stampede in Effie, Minn. The rodeo in this town of 90 is a good excuse to explore the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway, which winds through Chippewa National Forest north of Grand Rapids.

Festival of Arts in Bayfield, Wis. There are few settings better for browsing than this village on Lake Superior. On Saturday, Bayfield artists hold a Gallery Walk. July 26-27.

Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa. Since 1972, fans of this Jazz Age cornetist and composer have held this festival in his hometown on the Mississippi.  July 24-27.

Great Folle Avoine Fur Trade Rendezvous near Danbury, Wis. Re-enactors will occupy the banks of the Yellow River at this re-created North West Co. fur post. July 25-27.

Last updated on July 21, 2008