Big Bear Lake · California
Five days at 6,750 feet. Raw logs go in. Bears, eagles and trout come out — carved in the open air, in front of you.
Run the saw across the log. This is the whole sport, in miniature.
Now imagine it eight feet tall, finished in four days, with a crowd watching.
First saw starts in
The event
Chainsaw carving isn't a thing you look at afterward. It's loud, it's fast, and it happens in front of a crowd. Over five days in Big Bear Village, carvers take rough logs and finish them into work you'd put in a gallery — sawdust in the air, saws running, nothing hidden behind a curtain.
2027 is the first year. We're building it now with sponsors, carvers, hotels and the businesses along Pine Knot Avenue.
Gallery
Scenes from the circuit — the carvers, the saws, the log pile, and what's standing at the end of the week.
Championship week
The carving runs all week. If you can only come once, come Saturday. If you want to see how a sculpture actually gets made, come Thursday when it's quiet and the blocks are still square.
Times are planned and may change as the event is finalized.
Plan your visit
Big Bear is a two-hour drive from most of Southern California and a full weekend once you're up here. Here's what we know so far.
The championship is centered in Big Bear Lake, California, in and around the Village. Big Bear sits at about 6,750 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains — roughly two hours from Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire by car.
Patron parking is planned at Snow Summit, with Jazzy Bear shuttle service running to the championship area. Village parking is limited, especially on Saturday — park once at Snow Summit and ride in.
Watching the carving in the outdoor championship area is free. Any ticketed elements — the welcome dinner, sculpture auction and evening programs — will be posted here once they're set.
Big Bear has hotels, cabins and vacation rentals across the valley, most within a short drive of the Village. September is a popular mountain weekend, so book early. We're working with local lodging partners on event rates and will list them here.
Yes — this is one of the few competitions where kids can stand and watch a sculpture appear out of a log. It's loud, so bring ear protection for small children, and keep everyone behind the marked carver barriers.
Finished pieces are typically available at the end of the week, and some carvers sell smaller work at their stations throughout. Auction and sale details for 2027 will be announced closer to the event.
The carver field for the inaugural year is being assembled now. Use the form below, select "Carver application," and tell us where you've competed and what you carve. We'll send you the entry packet when it's ready.
Get involved
An inaugural championship gets built by the people who show up early. We're talking to sponsors, carvers, hotels, food vendors, volunteers and Village businesses right now — and there's still room to shape what this becomes.
Tell us where you fit and we'll get back to you with details.
