CLINTON, Iowa - Most of the action Friday afternoon at River Boat Days in Clinton was on the north end of the grounds, where roaring engines, clouds of black smoke, and full grandstands signaled that the tractor pull, one of the festival's most popular events, was under way.

Just to the east, a new event drew an interested crowd. Members of the Lumberjills female lumberjack team demonstrated the events of the sport, including axe-throwing, sawing and chopping races and, a particular crowd favorite, log rolling.

Brian Shontos of Clinton was part of a group that wandered over to the Lumberjills events from the tractor pull, which he said is usually the only event that brings him to River Boat Days.

He went away impressed.

"I think they're awesome," he said.

Ten-year-old Brooke Shontos, who was the lucky recipient of a bunny chair carved out of a log with a chainsaw by one of the contestants, said she also enjoyed the log rolling.

Ken Kroemer, commodore for this year's River Boat Days, said Friday that the crowds so far seemed to be smaller than usual. He said the fact that most of the rides at the Clinton Jaycees Carnival had been shut down by state inspectors Thursday was also a factor.

Kroemer said participation and attendance at Thursday night's parade were strong, but that those people didn't seem to "trickle down" to the festival grounds as they had in years past.

But Kroemer said he was hopeful with good weather and main stage acts Loverboy set to perform Friday and Aaron Tippin scheduled to perform Saturday, attendance would pick up.

"We're optimistic that we'll get some more people down here," he said.