24-04-2025
24th annual Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous hosted in Ridgway
ELK COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — For 24 years carvers from all over have come to Ridgway to participate in the Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous.
What started with 9 carvers in a backyard has grown into hundreds of carvers making their way to Elk County.
'It's just pure magic that's all I have to say,' resident Jen Deau said.
It's an event that brings carvers from all across the world together to enjoy what they do best.
'So when you come to this event it really feels like there are carvers all over the place because we have over 100 carvers here,' Ray Suchan of Rays Carving Co. said. 'But the truth is when I go back to New York there's not too many carvers out there so I don't have a lot of people to share ideas with.'
With that many carvers comes an abundance of wood.
'We go through maybe three tri axes of wood. So yeah there's a lot of wood that passes through here. I just saw the log truck bring more today, so there's a lot,' event coordinator Liz Boni said.
With that much wood, there's a lot of opportunity for these arbor artists to try new things, and visitors who return year after year say it keeps improving.
'The level of carving and the expertise of carving, and the intricacy of carving has just gone up exponentially,' Deau said. 'And the women carvers have added a new dimension to the whole artistry of chainsaw carving.'
The crowds that come also have a significant impact on the local economy.
'I can't imagine how this rendezvous doesn't only benefit Ridgway. Literally 100,000 people come and go to restaurants, stay overnight and they're here for a while,' Deau said.
Participants say they also enjoy being with others who share the same artistry.
'We have dinner tonight together so we'll have the opportunity to break bread and share some carving stories,' Suchan said.
The event takes place Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. everyday. For more information, you can visit the Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous website.
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