Arlington Eagle Festival, chainsaw carving mark first Saturday of February

ARLINGTON — The first Saturday of February will be marked by tributes to eagles and sawdust flying through the air in downtown Arlington. This year's Arlington-Stillaguamish Eagle Festival on Saturday, Feb. 4, will once again include the annual eagle photography and nature art show, presented to the public for free by the Arlington Arts Council and the city of Arlington from 3-5 p.m. in Magnolia Hall, located at 225 E. Third St. Saturday, Feb. 4, will also see Studio Tremko co-owners Dave and Debbie Tremko conducting their third Eagle Festival chainsaw carving show, this time at 315 N. West St. in Arlington.

ARLINGTON — The first Saturday of February will be marked by tributes to eagles and sawdust flying through the air in downtown Arlington.

This year’s Arlington-Stillaguamish Eagle Festival on Saturday, Feb. 4, will once again include the annual eagle photography and nature art show, presented to the public for free by the Arlington Arts Council and the city of Arlington from 3-5 p.m. in Magnolia Hall, located at 225 E. Third St.

City of Arlington Recreation Manager Sarah Lopez explained that photos submitted for the eagle photography contest will be featured in the art show, which also includes nature art in all media. The winning eagle photograph will receive a $100 cash prize and may be displayed on the city’s website, featured in the city’s newsletter and used in other ways to promote both the city and future Eagle Festivals. This contest is open to photographers of all skill levels who are Snohomish County residents.

The Arts Council is also seeking nature art to be displayed at the art show during the Eagle Festival. Artists are encouraged to submit up to five pieces of art each depicting nature, and a “Best of Show” award of $100 will be presented to the people’s choice winner. Young people up to 18 years old are encouraged to submit two works each in the youth art category.

To enter the show, you may download application forms and additional information at http://arlingtonwa.gov/eaglefest or call 360-403-3448. The fee to enter is $5 per entry, with a limit of one eagle photo per entrant.

The art show on Saturday will be preceded by an artists’ reception and wine-tasting on Friday, Feb. 3, from 5-8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 4, will also see Studio Tremko co-owners Dave and Debbie Tremko conducting their third Eagle Festival chainsaw carving show, this time at 315 N. West St. in Arlington.

Debbie Tremko, whose wedding and chainsaw carving show this past summer were the subjects of a recently aired episode of “Saw Dogs” on the Discovery Channel, explained that a dozen chainsaw carvers from across the state are set to show up to buzz up some eagle sculptures that will be auctioned off at 4:30 p.m. that Saturday.

“We invite the public to come and watch the carvers, as well as to check our new studio, which is full of chainsaw carvings from different, but all very talented artists,” said Debbie Tremko, who also touted the statue that her husband Dave carved for one of the city’s roundabouts, which they’ll be donating to the city that day. Debbie had carved an eagle sculpture of her own for the city during last year’s Eagle Festival, which has already been placed at another of its downtown roundabouts.

“At noon, we’ll be presenting the city with a 10-foot-tall carving of two perched eagles and a bear,” Debbie Tremko said. “By this summer, we hope to have a back entrance to our studio from the trail, so that customers can walk in and check out all of the carvings in our studio.”