Featured Title Image above by Matt Filar
When you think of Pony Express Days, you probably picture the big moments. The parade rolling down Central Avenue. Live music filling Pierson Park. Kids running around with sticky faces. Food vendors cooking. Families setting up lawn chairs. The joyful chaos of the pie-eating contest. That feeling that, for a little while, the whole community steps outside at the same time.
That is exactly what we want people to see.
But behind that picture is a lot of moving pieces, and a lot of people who said yes in different ways to make it happen.
Why This Takes a Community
Because McKinleyville is an unincorporated community, we do not have a city hall, a municipal budget, or a parks department with a full-time event staff. The Chamber steps into that gap because we are deeply committed to supporting the people who live, work, and play here. But we are a small team with a tight budget and whatever hours our community is willing to give us.
That is what makes Pony Express Days special. It is not just a tradition. It is a community collaboration, rebuilt from scratch every single year.
The Good Old Days vs. Modern Reality
We hear it often: “I miss the old street dances.” “Why isn’t the parade route longer?” “It used to be a whole week of horse events.”
We love that history. We treat it with real respect, which is why we started anchoring each year with a theme: 2025’s “Where Trails Lead to Community” and this year’s “Coastal Roots, Western Boots” being two examples of that effort.
But here is the honest truth: the world of event production today bears almost no resemblance to the 1970s, 80s, or 90s. The things pulled off decades ago with a handshake and a clipboard now require a mountain of compliance.
To shut down Central Avenue or pack Pierson Park, we navigate liability insurance requirements that get stricter every year, months of permits covering public safety and regional health requirements, and a coordinated planning process with multiple public agencies just to handle traffic control and all the details.
When pieces of the festival shift or change, it is not random. It is a deliberate strategy to keep this tradition alive under modern constraints. Every decision is made with the goal of getting to the next year.
From the Mixer to the Main Event
Most people know the Saturday parade and festival, but Pony Express Days is really a full week of community events, planning, preparation, and a little bit of controlled chaos.
The Chamber Mixer kicks things off and sets the tone. Business owners, community leaders, and neighbors all in the same place, catching up and officially launching the celebration. The Friday Night Dance at Six Rivers Brewery worked at bringing something back we had been missing, and it felt like a great step toward rebuilding that energy.
The Pie-Eating Contest, a new tradition in its 2nd year, also hosted at Six Rivers, is pure, messy joy. Watching kids and adults dive face-first into pies with no hands is exactly as hilarious as it sounds. As community member Allison shared on social media, “Such a great turn out, it was fun to watch!”
The Chili Cook-Off brings out friendly competition and a whole lot of strong opinions, while the stick horse race keeps the kids in the action. We received some wonderful feedback on the park layout this year from Patricia , who shared on the community watch facebook page:
“Chili Cook-Off Kudos! To the participants—WOW. From classic to fiery to green, you did a great job and made picking the ‘best’ very difficult. To the organizers—Fantastic job. Having the booths laid out as a perimeter instead of in aisles made it a lot less congested and easy to navigate.”
Before the parade rolls on Saturday morning, the day starts with pancakes at Azalea Hall. The Dow’s Prairie Grange crew fuels the community for the big day ahead, and there is something genuinely special about starting parade day with hot coffee, pancakes, and familiar faces.
Then comes the big Saturday finale. Central Avenue fills with horses, classic cars, community groups, kids, and people waving from the sidewalk. After the parade, the energy moves to Pierson Park for food trucks, vendors, live music, kids’ activities, pony rides, the petting zoo, and all the little moments that make the park feel alive.
That is the part most people see. Getting there takes months of work.
Spreadsheets, Signs, and Last-Minute Questions
Long before anyone grabs a spot along the parade route, there is a lot of unglamorous work happening behind the scenes.
Permits. Insurance. Vendor layouts. Safety planning. Parade entries. Sponsor follow-up. Volunteer schedules. Maps. Posters. Social media. Signs. Tickets. Supplies. Emails. So many emails. And yes, a truly unreasonable number of spreadsheets.
Turning Pierson Park into a festival space is its own puzzle. Food trucks need room. Vendors need spaces. Kids’ activities need to fit safely. The band needs power. People need to find the bathrooms. Trash and cleanup need to be planned for. Parade logistics need to be answered. Volunteers need to know where to go.
And then event day arrives.
Someone needs an extension cord. Someone cannot find check-in. Someone has a parking question. Someone needs ice, tape, scissors, a trash bag, a chair, or a quick decision on something no one predicted.
You are carrying a box, answering a text, pointing someone in the right direction, and trying to remember where you left your water bottle.
It is chaotic. It is tiring. And then you look up.
You see kids laughing, old friends reconnecting, local businesses getting cheered on in the parade, vendors serving long lines of people, volunteers helping without being asked, and Pierson Park full of community life. That behind-the-scenes hustle didn’t just make things smooth for visitors – it kept our local business and artisan economy moving too. Hearing from our vendors makes every bit of the coordination worth it:
- “Very much enjoyed Pony Express Days as a newer vendor. Had a great time and met lots of great people!” — Randy
- “I think this was my first vendor event that I didn’t have a chance to take photos—it was busy!” — JoAnn
- “It was wonderful! Very well organized. Very family friendly.” — Maria
Thinking Ahead to 2028
Pony Express Days has been part of McKinleyville since 1968. In 2028, we celebrate the 60th anniversary, and that milestone is already on our minds.
A diamond jubilee will not build itself. It will be built on a community deciding to show up, year after year, with fresh energy and a willingness to carry a piece of the weight. We want the years leading up to 2028 to bring in new ideas, new volunteers, and new momentum while still honoring what this tradition means to the people who have been part of it for decades.
If you want to see an old event come back, help us build it. If you see a problem, help us fix it. Our doors are genuinely open.
Why We Keep Doing This
Events like this support the local economy. They bring people into town, give vendors a place to sell, give sponsors a way to invest in the community, and give nonprofits and local organizations a chance to connect with the people they serve. They give families memories. They give volunteers a role.
They also help McKinleyville tell its own story.
As McKinleyville grows and changes, traditions like Pony Express Days help keep us connected to place. They remind us that we are not just a spot on the map. We are a community with history, pride, humor, generosity, and a whole lot of people willing to roll up their sleeves.
A Genuine Thank You, McKinleyville
To every person who played a part. Whether you sponsored an event, marched in the parade, flipped pancakes, cooked chili, sold food, volunteered, hosted, performed, decorated, donated, answered questions, shared a post, brought your family, or simply showed up to enjoy the day – thank you. You helped make Pony Express Days happen.
As community member Shel beautifully shared on the community page alongside photos from the weekend:
“Pictures from the 2026 Pony Express Day Parade. An amazing day in McKinleyville. Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to bring us all together.”
A strong community does not appear on its own. We build it. Sometimes with meetings and maps. Sometimes with folding tables, duct tape, chili pots, parade floats, music, and a whole lot of heart.
Pony Express Days is not perfect. No event this big ever is. But it is uniquely ours. And year after year, McKinleyville keeps showing up for it. That is something worth celebrating.
Share Your Favorite Moments!
Did you capture great photos during Pony Express Days? We would love to see the week through your eyes. Tag the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce on facebook and Instagram or send your favorites our way. Those photos help tell the real story too!
