5 Easy Ways to Support Local Businesses in McKinleyville

Posted on May 17, 2026May 19, 2026 by Jesse

Supporting local businesses does not always have to mean making a big purchase.

Of course, buying local matters. Dining at a local restaurant, shopping at a local store, booking a local service, or choosing a local professional all make a real difference.

But there are also smaller ways to support local businesses that cost very little, or nothing at all.

Here in McKinleyville, our local businesses help shape the everyday feel of our community. They sponsor events, donate raffle prizes, employ local people, support schools and youth programs, show up for fundraisers, volunteer, serve on committees, and help make community traditions possible.

When we support them, we are also supporting the community around them.

1. Choose Local When You Can

You do not have to do everything locally all the time. Life is busy, budgets matter, and sometimes convenience wins.

But when you have the choice, choosing local adds up.

That might mean grabbing lunch from a McKinleyville restaurant, buying a gift from a local shop, hiring a local contractor, using a local insurance office, visiting a local salon, booking with a local lodging property, or calling a local service provider first.

Those choices help keep money moving through our community and help local businesses stay strong.

2. Leave a Good Review

A positive review can make a big difference, especially for a small business.

If you had a good experience, take a minute to leave a review on Google, Facebook, Yelp, or wherever that business shows up online.

It does not have to be long or fancy. A few honest sentences can help the next person feel confident choosing that business, pictures can add even more of a positive impact!

Something as simple as, “Great service, friendly staff, and easy to work with,” can go a long way.

3. Share Their Posts

Social media is one of the easiest ways to support local.

When a business posts about a special, event, job opening, new product, fundraiser, or update, sharing it helps more people see it.

You can also like, comment, tag a friend, or save the post for later. Those little actions help boost the post and remind the algorithm that people care about what that business is sharing.

And for the business owner or staff member behind the post, it is also just encouraging to know someone is paying attention.

4. Tell Someone About a Business You Love

Word of mouth still matters.

If you love a local business, tell someone. Recommend them when a friend asks for ideas. Tag them in a comment. Mention them to a neighbor. Bring someone with you next time you stop in.

Sometimes the best support is simply helping someone else discover a business they might not have known about yet.

5. Use the Chamber Business Directory

When you are looking for a local business, service, restaurant, nonprofit, or organization, the McKinleyville Chamber Business Directory is a great place to start.

Our directory includes Chamber members from many different industries, including food, lodging, retail, health and wellness, professional services, construction, real estate, community organizations, and more.

Before heading straight to a search engine, take a quick look through the directory and see who is right here in McKinleyville and the surrounding area.

Small Actions Add Up

Supporting local is not about doing everything perfectly.

It is about noticing the businesses around us and choosing to support them when we can.

Buy local when it makes sense. Leave the review. Share the post. Tell a friend. Check the directory. Show up.

Small actions really do help, and they help keep McKinleyville connected, active, and strong.

Explore the McKinleyville Chamber Business Directory and find local businesses to support today.

Music in the Park: More Than a Summer Concert Series

Posted on May 14, 2026May 14, 2026 by Jesse

There is something special that happens at Pierson Park on summer evenings.

Blankets spread across the grass. Kids run between lawn chairs. Friends wave to each other from across the park. Families bring dinner, stop by their favorite local restaurant on the way, or grab something from one of the food vendors set up for the night. The music starts, people settle in, and for a few hours, McKinleyville feels exactly like what it is at its best: connected, welcoming, relaxed, and full of life.

That is the heart of Music in the Park. ❤️

For years, Music in the Park has been one of McKinleyville’s most loved summer traditions. It is a free community concert series that brings people together through live music, local food, family fun, and the simple joy of being outside together on a summer evening.

But it is more than just music.

It is neighbors catching up after a long week. It is kids dancing in front of the gazebo without a care in the world. It is local musicians sharing their talent with the community. It is small businesses, nonprofits, volunteers, sponsors, families, and visitors all coming together in one shared space.

In a community like McKinleyville, events like this matter.

We are a growing community, but we still hold tightly to the things that make us feel like home. Music in the Park gives people a place to gather, a reason to slow down, and a chance to feel connected to the community around them. You can come by yourself and almost always run into someone you know, or bring the whole family and settle in for the evening.

What to Expect in 2026

Music in the Park will return in 2026 with another season of free Thursday night concerts at Pierson Park.

Guests can expect live music from local Humboldt County bands, food vendors, space to dance, room for lawn chairs and picnic blankets, and a fun, casual atmosphere for all ages. The annual Car Show and Motorcycle Show will also return this year, adding even more fun to the summer lineup.

As always, the goal is to create an event that feels easy, welcoming, and fun. You do not need a ticket. You do not need a reservation. You can come after work, bring the kids, meet up with friends, and make dinner part of the evening. Bring something from home, grab takeout from your favorite local restaurant or store on the way, or enjoy food from the vendors set up at the park that night. Then settle in, listen to music, and enjoy a summer evening in the park.

More details about the 2026 band lineup, vendor schedule, special event nights, sponsors, and volunteer opportunities will be shared as the season gets closer.

For updates, announcements, behind the scenes posts, and summer highlights, follow Music in the Park on Instagram at @mckinleyvillemusicinthepark

Why It Matters

Free community events do not happen by accident. Music in the Park is made possible through the support of local businesses, sponsors, volunteers, vendors, musicians, community partners, and the people who continue to show up year after year.

When businesses sponsor this event, they are helping create a gathering place for the community. They are supporting local musicians. They are helping families enjoy a free night out. They are making it possible for McKinleyville to have a summer tradition that feels joyful, accessible, and uniquely ours.

When community members attend, share posts, invite friends, thank vendors, support sponsors, and treat the park with care, they help keep the event strong.

Music in the Park is one of the ways McKinleyville tells its story. It shows that we are a community that values connection. We support local talent. We gather outdoors. We welcome families, visitors, dogs, kids, neighbors, and friends. We know how to make a simple Thursday night feel amazing!

Join Us This Summer

We cannot wait to see Pierson Park full of music, laughter, dancing, and community again in 2026.

Bring a blanket. Bring a chair. Bring your family, your friends, your neighbors, and your appetite. Come ready to enjoy another summer of Music in the Park in McKinleyville.

Stay tuned for the full 2026 schedule, band announcements, vendor information, sponsor highlights, and ways to get involved.

Music in the Park is coming back, and we cannot wait to share another season with you.

Thank you to every sponsor, volunteer, musician, vendor, and community member who helps make Music in the Park possible. We will see you at Pierson Park this summer.

Welcome to McKinleyville: Where Community, Business, Forest, and Coast Come Together

Posted on May 11, 2026May 18, 2026 by Jesse

Welcome to the McKinleyville Chamber Blog

McKinleyville is one of those places that is hard to sum up in just a few words.

For starters, we are a growing community on California’s North Coast, tucked between the redwoods and the Pacific Ocean. We have beaches, trails, parks, schools, local shops, family friendly events, and businesses that help give our town its character.

At the heart of it all, though, McKinleyville is made up of people who care.

You can see it in the way our community shows up for local events, supports small businesses, volunteers, sponsors youth programs, serves on committees, and helps make things happen.

That sense of connection is something we get to see everyday at the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce.

Just as importantly, our businesses are a big part of the story. They are owned and operated by neighbors, families, friends, employers, and people who are invested in this place. When you support a business in McKinleyville, you are helping keep our community connected and strong.

Between the Redwoods and the Sea

McKinleyville is also a special place to visit. With the California Redwood Coast Humboldt County Airport nearby, local lodging, restaurants, shops, beaches, trails, and easy access to the greater Humboldt County area, our community is a natural gateway to the North Coast.

Through events like Pony Express Days, Music in the Park, mixers, ribbon cuttings, and community celebrations, the Chamber works to bring people together and help tell the story of McKinleyville.

This blog will be one more way for us to share that story.

We will use this space to highlight local businesses, community events, visitor ideas, member news, resources, and the people and places that make McKinleyville feel like home.

So whether you live here, work here, own a business here, are thinking about moving here, or are just passing through, we are glad you found us.

There is a lot to love about McKinleyville, and we are excited to keep sharing it with you.

Stay Connected

This blog is just the beginning. We will continue sharing local business stories, community updates, event highlights, visitor ideas, and resources to help you stay connected to McKinleyville.

Take a look around, explore our local business directory, check out upcoming events, or follow the Chamber on social media to see what is happening next.

McKinleyville has a lot to offer, and we are glad to help share it.

Explore Local Businesses

View Upcoming Events

Learn About Membership

Author: Jesse