Every summer, typically on the first weekend in June, McKinleyville celebrates the Azalea Festival. First celebrated in the early 1970's, it was originally known as Pony Express Days.

It's a fun-filled event with activities for all ages. On the Thursday afternoon before the weekend, in the Mill Creek Marketplace, the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department holds a Firemen's Muster and invites local fire departments to compete against each other in a hose coupling contest and an old-fashioned bucket brigade. Come on down and root for your favorite firefighters. But be careful, or you might get wet!

On Friday night McKinleyville High School hosts the Alumni Football Game, in which former players relive their high school football days. The Mack Panthers take on their former rivals made up of alumni from nearby Arcata High. This is always a spirited game.

The premiere event on Saturday morning is the Azalea Festival Parade down Central Avenue. The parade typically features local bands, Scout troupes, the VFW Color Guard, floats from local businesses, vintage automobiles, and much more. This year the Coast Guard helicopters will do several flyovers.

Also on Saturday from 11:00 to 4:00 PM in Pierson Park there's the Pony Express BBQ. Also this year, there's live music, food samples from local restaurants, miniature golf, the Library Annual Book Sale, the Azalea Festival Rummage Sale and Craft Bazaar, and for the kids, a petting zoo, balloon artist, bounce house and face painting. Finally, at 2 PM there will be a paper airplane contest with cash prizes for the longest flight.

If you want to know what's going on during the Azalea Festival, be sure to pick up the special McKinleyville Press Azalea Festival issue, which comes out the Tuesday before the event. If you own a business, you'll want to advertise. For information, contact the McKinleyville Press.

The Azalea Festival is organized by hard-working volunteers at the McKinleyville Chamber of Commerce. For more on the organization, or to become a volunteer, drop in at 1640 Central Avenue, phone (707-839-2449) or visit them online.

Take a look at pictures from the Pony Express Days festivities of recent years.