McKinleyville Pony Express Days

June 4-7, 2026

Pony Express Days Parade

June 6, 2026, 11 a.m.

Parade route: Starts on Murray Road, turns south on Central Avenue, and then exits at the Mill Creek Shopping Center parking lot via Anna Sparks Way (road between McDonalds and Rite Aid). Total distance from Murray/Central Avenue to parking lot is approximately 2.4 miles. • During the parade all entrants should stop at the Judge's Stand located in front of Coast Central Credit Union.

Parade entrant categories: Best Float, Best Equestrian, Best Car, Best Walking Group, Outstanding Spirit Award (entry with most enthusiasm during the parade),  Best Parade Performance (entry that is the most entertaining for the crowd)
Wednesday, June 4th- Pie Eating Contest: Evening
Six Rivers Brewery, 1300 Central Ave.

Thursday, June 5th- Chili Cook-Off: 5:30-7:30 pm – Tickets available presale or at the door!
Pierson Park- 1608 Pickett Road, McKinleyville

Friday, June 6th- 21+ Friday Night Dance: 8-11 pm
Dow’s Prairie Grange, 3995 Dows Prairie Rd.

Saturday, June 7th- Pancake Breakfast: 8-11 am
Azalea Hall- Hosted by Dow’s Prairie Grange

Saturday, June 7th- Parade: 11 am
Starts at Central and Murray ends at Central & School Rd.
In Partnership with Mad River Rotary

Saturday, June 7th – Pony Express Days Parade: 12-4 pm Live Band, Food Trucks, Vendors, Kids Activities and more!
Pierson Park, 1608 Pickett Rd.

Saturday, June 7th- Book Sale: 10 am – 4 pm
McKinleyville Library- Put on by Friends of the McKinleyville Library

Saturday, June 7th & Sunday, June 8th- Gymkhana: 10:30
McKinleyville Rodeo Arena, Put on by Smoking Aces Horse Association
 

Pony Express Days Chili Cookoff

June 5, 2025, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Pony Express Days Chili Cook Off is held at Pierson Park!  $15 tasting ticket

The festivities will be set-up at Pierson Park outside the backdoors of Azalea Hall. Get out your pots, pans, chili peppers and secret ingredients and make sure you can create 15 gallons of chili for this daring competition. It's chili cookin' time at an outdoor venue, with all cooking occurring on-site! The public can purchase tasting tickets and enjoy the food 5-7 p.m. in Pierson Park.

Awards: Best Local Business, Chili Best Amateur Chili, Best Team Spirit

Friday Night Dance

June 6, 2025, 8-11 p.m.

Dow’s Prairie Grange, 3995 Dows Prairie Rd.

Pony Express Days Festival 

June 7, 2025, 12-4 p.m.

Pierson Park
McKinleyville, California
mckinleyvillechamber.com | mckinleyvillecsd.com

Food Booths will be located near the gazebo in Pierson Park. The Kid's Zone will be located on the south side of Azalea Hall. All other booths will be face-to-face and located on the northeast corner of Pierson Park.  

Pony Express Days Gymkhana

 June 7-8, 2025, 10:30 a.m.

McKinleyville Rodeo Arena

While the Chamber describes the festival as: "Pony Express Days is a town celebration that was established in 1968 and is held the first weekend in June. It is a four day community event where you can enjoy a chili cook-off, barn dance, gymkhana, a parade down Central Avenue and big Pony Express Family Fun Festival in Pierson Park.

McKinley Pony Express Days

Wednesday evening Firefighter's Mini-Muster in the Upper Parking Lot of Pierson Park. 

Thursday  Chili Cook-off at McKinleyville Shopping Center at 1500 City Center Road.

Friday Indoor Pony Express Dance Barn dance with live music.

Saturday

• Pancake Breakfast 
• Pony Express Days Parade 11 a.m. Route: Central Avenue from Murray Road to School Road.  With more than 75 floats and entries the parade involves nearly everyone in the community and surrounding areas. Prizes are awarded for best float, best equestrian, best band, best youth group and best senior group.
• Pony Express Days Festival 12-4 p.m. at Pierson Park. The fest includes vendors selling foods and products such as arts and crafts.
• Pony Express Days MRA Gymkhana Buckle Series at McKinleyville Rodeo Grounds at the Kjer Road arena.

 Sunday

• Pony Express Days MRA Gymkhana Buckle Series at McKinleyville Rodeo Grounds at the Kjer Road arena.

Saturday & Sunday Gymkhana at the McKinleyville Rodeo Grounds at the Kjer Road arena. Unlike the rest of the events sponsored by the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce this competition is produced by McKinleyville Rodeo Association. One of the most popular events is the barrel race contest.

Pony Express Days Pony Express Days is a town celebration that was established in 1968. Though McKinleyville is some miles northwest of the final delivery point of the historic Pony Express, it is one of many popularly-themed festivals throughout the U.S. baring the name of this brief moment in history that gained incredible fame.

Why does McKinleyville celebrate Pony Express Days, being that the famous mail service of the Wild West never delivered to the North Coast?  The town festival was actually named after a Pony Express-style horse race which was the main attraction in the early years of the event. The first Pony Express Day was planned for Sunday, Aug. 25, 1968 by the Greater McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce.

The original Pony Express for which this festival was named placed ads such as: "Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred."

The 1,900 mile rout between St. Joseph, MO, and Sacramento, CA, took approx. 10 days to complete with more than 150 relay stations along the route roughly following the Oregon and California trails. Each rider would go approx. 75 to 100 miles, changing horses at stations every 10-25 miles at a relay station. Riders could not weigh over 125 pounds. One of the most famous riders was Buffalo Bill (William Cody) who was a teenager age 15 when he took on the assignment.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.