ST. MARIES - Paul Bunyan Days visitors who are of legal drinking age usually get a kick out of knowing they can enjoy a beverage at the Blue Ox beer garden, humorously referred to as "the biggest topless bar."

"The first response is shock," said Donna Darnold of St. Maries. "At first they're thinking, 'Oh, it's shirtless.' I tell them they have to come and see. Then they get here and see that there's no roof, they're like, 'Oh, OK,' and their response is really good. They laugh and think it's pretty funny because their mind went the wrong way in the first place."

Darnold smiled warmly Saturday afternoon as she worked in the souvenir booth and greeted guests who sought to purchase Blue Ox swag, which includes items ranging from T-shirts and hats to lumberjack-appropriate suspenders. Darnold is also a Paul Bunyan Days board member and knows that it takes the whole community to pull off the popular, four-day, Labor Day weekend celebration in St. Maries.

"Everybody plays a part because there's so much," she said. "We have our auction, tug-o-war, pool events, the walking events. It takes all of us to put on the show."

While adults can snicker and socialize in the beer garden, the 101st Paul Bunyan Days (with the theme "Circus Circus") offers an abundance of activities for the entire family. Contenders can try to win prizes at games such as the Balloon-a-Rama or the Wackey Water Race. Children and those young at heart have their choice of several carnival rides, including the Starship 2000, the carousel, the Berry Go Round and the alligator roller coaster. A plethora of food and merchandise vendors are also on site, with a wide variety of goods, services and tasty vittles for hungry festival-goers.

"The fireworks show is a big thing," said Jenn Nelson of Post Falls, who said she and her family have made Paul Bunyan Days a family tradition for the last four years.

"One of the main reasons we come out is to be with all of our friends," she said. "There are lots of activities. Our daughter can go over to the carnival while we go either go over to the 'topless' bar or watch some of the events."

Frank Adams of Santa, Idaho, runs the Treasure Box booth, which sells kooky hats, colorful toys and novelties. People can also walk away from his booth with a wax cast of their hands. Adams has been a vendor at Paul Bunyan Days for at least 10 years.

"I enjoy it," he said. "I enjoy the people and keeping prices down so it's affordable for everybody. I'll get those Chinese finger traps and I give them out to kids. They maybe cost me a penny apiece. I'll just give them out."

Blake Coburn, 7, and his sister, Elyssa Bradley, 13, of Kellogg, spent the day in the festival with their family. It was their first time attending Paul Bunyan Days, an experience they agreed would be repeated next year. Elyssa said she was looking forward to the fireworks and enjoyed playing the games.

"The coin game was fun," she said. "It was addicting."

Paul Bunyan Days continues today and Monday on Main Avenue and in the St. Maries City Park. Today's activities begin with a community breakfast at the Eagles on Main Avenue from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and include the Valley Peacemakers Quilt Show, the Paul Bunyan auction, live music and a fireworks display at 9 p.m. Monday's activities include the annual parade at 10 a.m., helicopter rides, logging events and duck races at the river as the last event at 2 p.m. The festival and many of the events are free.

Info: www.stmariesid.com/ready-set-paul-bunyan-days/