NORTH BEND — A lot will be going on during the next two weekends at The Mill Casino-Hotel in North Bend, including the grand opening of its hotel tower and a pre-Independence Day pyrotechnic extravaganza.

The festivities begin at 5 p.m., Thursday, with a ribbon cutting followed by tours, food and music.

Then, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, The Mill will host the eighth-annual International Lumberjack Competition. The event showcases world-class lumberjacks, who will compete in ax throws, pole climbing, springboard chop, hot saw and other categories.  The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Douglas Timber Operators are co-hosts of the free, family-friendly event, a press release stated.

Finally, The Mill offers fun, food and waterfront fireworks on Thursday, July 3. Starting at 4 p.m. in the north parking lot, locals and visitors will be able to enjoy face painting, balloon artists and a large slide and bounce house, as well as the antics of jugglers, magicians, stilt walkers and caricature artists. Captain Byrde and his Wonderful Macaws also will perform.

Along with the strolling entertainers, The Mill will have live entertainment from 4 to 9 p.m. in the outdoor Tent Pavilion. Performances include the calypso steel-drums of the Pan Gypsies and Coos Bay’s own Fatinah Maysaa Belly Dancing Troupe. The U.S. Coast Guard will hold an open-water rescue demonstration at 6:30 p.m.

According to a press release from The Mill, this year the casino will present a live simulcast of the fireworks show inside the casino while radio station Power107 does a live, on-air broadcast from the waterfront dock.

The Mill Casino-Hotel and RV Park is located on the waterfront at 3201 Tremont Ave.

For more information, those interested can call (800) 953-4800 or visit http://www.themillcasino.com.

— Jessica Musicar, Staff Writer