OROVILLE – Pacific Northwest Trail Days will take place in Oroville this Saturday, Aug. 6th at the Oroville City Park on 17th and Main St. This annual celebration of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail will begin at 9 a.m. and continue all day ending at about 9 p.m.

Sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Trail Association, this is a community party in recognition of the National Scenic Trail that passes through Oroville. As the halfway point on the trail, Oroville is a major stop for through hikers needing to rest and refuel before taking on the Pasayten Wilderness and the trail west to the Pacific Ocean.

The event is free and will include live local music performed all day on the Trail Days Stage. Performers in order of appearance are: John Phillips, Mark Kubiak, Heather and Noah Burnell, Steve Pollard and Angela Marie Cross, Tool Shed, Sunny Lanigan, Sunshine Company, Sandy Vaughn, Harvey Swanson, Frosted Flakes, Cheat Grass and ends with good high energy from Digital Deb and Friends.

There will fun activities for children including, a story walk for young readers, live Hawks and Owls presented by Lisa Lindsey of Okanogan Wildlife League and a booth where you can make your own bead bracelet. The food served at Trail Days will be locally grown including USDA organic Philly cheese steaks and cheeseburgers provided by the Sykes Family of Holly Rock Ranch, authentic juice drinks and Mexican Food by Michael, formerly “La Ultima” of Tonasket, as well as corn on the cob, watermelon and fresh apple juice squeezed on site by members of the Okanogan Chapter of the PNTA.

“We will have maps and handouts presented by BLM outdoor recreation specialist Diane Priebe and plenty of Pacific Northwest Trail Stickers for your car window or school notebook,” said Joseph Enzensperger, president of the Oroville Chapter of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association. “There will be a raffle drawing every hour for some fun outdoor gear that you can use out on the PNT. “

In addition, Through Hikers will be sharing their “Tales from the Trails” and the hiking gear they use on the PNT’s 1200 mile cross-country trek. Some members of the National PNTA Board and Staff will be there to meet the public and share their vision for this newest National Scenic Trail.

On Sunday the local Chapter of the PNTA has organized two group hikes. The hike up the Whistler Canyon Trail will leave the Whistler Canyon Trailhead, three miles south of Oroville on Highway 97, at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning and will last about three hours. The Similkameen River Trail hike will also begin at 9 a.m. departing from Taber’s Copper Mountain Vineyard Trail parking area just one mile west of Oroville on the Oroville-Loomis Roadd. This hike takes about three hours as well.

For more information contact Enzensper at 509-476-4072 or email: jgenz4@gmail.com.