The roar of a chain saw mixed with the smell of fresh-cut pine has become a familiar thing at the Carbon County Fair, where Darren Yurkunas is once again captivating crowds with his live chain saw carving demonstrations.

For Yurkunas, who has been attending the fair for more than a decade, carving has been a passion since he first picked up a chain saw 15 years ago.

“I went to this fair and I went up to West End and they had the guy there from Brodheadsville, Rick Mack,” Yurkunas said. “I saw him. I went home, picked up the saw and started. I never stopped. I won’t lie, my first bear looked like a pig, But now I do four shows a year, and this is the big show.”

Throughout the Carbon County Fair, Yurkunas is creating several new pieces for the public to watch — and sometimes even help inspire.

“I’ll probably be doing another Ozzy (Osbourne) tribute here,” he said Wednesday night. “I’ve done a pig already holding a welcome sign. I’ll probably do another bear holding a welcome sign.” He also mentioned wanting to create a “big bass fish” that looks like it’s “swimming in the water.”

Yurkunas explained that carving a piece from a block of wood is a multi-step process.

“I can get the rough cut done in about 45 minutes,” he said. “And then until sanding and painting, probably another two, three hours. Then the coating process.”

The hardest part of the job, according to Yurkunas, was learning where to start.

“I’m at the point now where I just look at a log and I know what I’m doing,” he said. “But when I first started, it took a while to learn that part. I basically taught myself. I watched (Rick Mack) once, went home and just started.”

Some of Yurkunas’ more creative pieces include pop culture tributes like Stitch, a character from the Disney movie “Lilo & Stitch,” and the Harry Potter sorting hat — which are especially popular for photo ops.

When asked if he had a favorite carving he’s ever made, Yurkunas smiled and shared the story of a large bear he made for his yard.

“In my front yard, I have a 5-foot-tall bear in farmer coveralls holding a big shotgun,” he said. “I made everything, including the shotgun.”

He also spoke about a 6-foot-tall dragon that he rigged with a fog machine to blow mist from its nostrils: “The wings were separate. The base was separate … the kids loved it.”

Yurkunas said his favorite part of coming to the Carbon County Fair is interacting with children and watching their reactions.

“The kids — they love it,” he said. “They’ll stand there with their hands over their ears and watch the entire show. They’re mesmerized. They love touching everything, and their parents are always hollering but I tell them, ‘Don’t worry, they can’t break it!’ These things stand up through hurricanes.”

Fairgoers gathered in front of Yurkunas’ booth throughout the day, many staying through the duration of a carving session.

“It’s amazing what he can do with just a chain saw and a log,” said Lauren McCoy of Lehighton, who watched Yurkunas shape the outline of a bear during her visit. “My kids couldn’t stop staring.”

Another fairgoer, Jim Danner of Weatherly, said he comes to see the carvings every year.

“He’s like a magician with that saw. You blink, and suddenly there’s a bear standing there,” Danner said.

Yurkunas’ booth also includes some of his finished works for sale.