Both summer and winter bring well-known events to Our Town Hayward.

The American Birkebeiner and World Lumberjack Championship flood the area with fans, and kick-start the local economy with millions of dollars.

For almost fifty years, Hayward has had world-class events to call its own, and the credit goes to the late Tony Wise.

"Very simply, he was trying to come up with a way to bring more tourists to the Hayward area," said Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner.

Wise owned a resort in Cable, and is considered an expert entrepreneur.

In 1959, his vision brought him to the site that would eventually house the Lumberjack Championships.

"The lumberjacks would bring the lumber down the Namekogan River, and this was the holding pond," said Executive Director Diane McNamer.

"People, back in those days had the lumberjack saying: I can saw faster, I can chop faster, I can climb faster."

So Wise created the World Lumberjack Championship.

It's held during the last weekend of July, and typically packs the seats with some 12,000 spectators.

Wise wasn't done there.

In 1973, he started the American Birkebeiner.

"There were 35 skiers, who skied from Hayward to Telemark, and they skied on old logging roads (and) next to the highways," Zuelsdorff said.

Now thousands of cross-country skiers finish the 31-mile race on Main Street in Hayward, and hundreds of volunteers make it happen.

"It's such a big part of Hayward, and anything we can do to help maintain that tradition is important," said Volunteer John Moreland.

It's a tradition people in Our Town Hayward are proud to show off.

"We have world-class events, world-class lakes, and world-class hospitality, so, blend it all together and it's a great place to come and see," McNamer said.

Several national media outlets are taking notice too.

The lumberjack competition has brought ABC, OLN, and ESPN to Hayward.

Meanwhile, the Birkebeiner, which turns 35 years old in February, serves as a reunion of sorts.

Organizers say more than 800 people have skied it at least 20 times.