8:00 – 10:00 am:  2026 PCT Thru-Hiker Breakfast on Thunder Island.  Food for Adventures and Triple Crown Coffee are going to provide free breakfast and coffee for thru-hikers that are camping on Thunder Island. 

10 – 11am:  Cascade Locks Clean-Up.  Join Granite Gear as they give back to Cascade Locks with a town clean up! Meet at Overlook Park – Next to the Post Office on Main Street. The clean-up starts at 10am. Gloves and garbage bags are provided.  Participants get great swag (while supplies last, so get to the clean-up early!) and 5 tickets for the raffle on Saturday at 5:30.  Please bring water and sun protection and thank you for participating in a way to give back to the community!

10:30 to 11:30 am:  2026 Hiker Bocce Ball Tournament on Thunder Island:  Participants will be taught how to play hiker bocce ball (think miniature golf with a lightweight ball, but no club).  Sign-up starts at 10am on Thunder Island near the footbridge.  Winners get these rewards:  1st place: 14 raffle tickets and $50, 2nd place: 10 raffle tickets and $30, 3rd place:  6 raffle tickets and $20.  Raffle tickets are good for raffle on Saturday at 5:30.

12 pm:  PCT DAYS Opens!  The gates will open at 12 pm so you can kick off your PCT DAYS experience.  Hundreds of products will be on display and sponsors will be offering great deals!  No early birds, you’ll need to wait until 12 pm to enter the area since sponsors and festival staff need time to set up.

12 – 5 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee booth: Spin to Win.  Visit the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee booth and Spin-to-Win on our Schwinn Bike wheel-of-fortune. Everyone is a winner! Come chat with committee members and learn more about all the great things to see and do in Cascade Locks, the heart of the gorge.

12 – 5 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Next Adventure booth:  Pack It, Spin It, Win It!  Swing by the Next Adventure booth all day long for games, prizes, gear talk, and plenty of trail-town fun.  Spin the Wheel: Step up and give the wheel a spin for a chance to score gear, swag, discounts, and other surprises. You never know what your next spin might bring.  Guess the Pack Weight: Think you know your gear? Put your pack-weight skills to the test with three fully loaded backpacks: a day pack, an overnight pack, and a multi-day pack. Get closest to the actual weight of a pack and you could take that backpack home.

12:30 – 1 pm:  Presentation by Friends of the Owyhee and Greater Hells Canyon Council.  Come to the stage to get the latest news on what is going on with 2 amazing outdoor organizations. 

1:15 – 1:45 pm:  Presentation by ALDHA-West at the Stage:  ALDHA-West Supports Hikers: From Diversity Scholarships to the Triple Crown Award and more.  The American Long-Distance Hiking Association-West (ALDHA-West) is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to inspire, educate, and promote fellowship among long-distance hikers and those who support long-distance hiking.  Our annual Hiker Diversity Scholarship promotes inclusivity on long trails, supporting POC hikers with financial support and gear.  The Triple Crown of Hiking Award, for completion of the PCT, AT, and CDT in their entirety.  We also organize a wide range of hiker education and preparedness events throughout the calendar year in locations across western states.  We like to say that ALDHA-West is your trail family for life.

2 – 2:30 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the PAD Overland booth:  Coffee, Campers & Big Giveaways.  Come visit the PAD Overland booth, adjacent to the main stage, for a relaxed walkthrough of two of the most exciting lightweight camping solutions on the market: the Outpost 6.5 Truck Camper and the Topo Toppers Rincon Camper.  We’ll showcase what makes these campers unique, answer your questions, and demonstrate how they help adventurers travel farther while staying comfortable off-grid. During the activity, we’ll be raffling off premium coffee prize packages featuring Triple Crown Coffee beans, and attendees can enter our grand prize drawing for a chance to “Double Your Down Payment” on a new Outpost 6.5 Camper.  Whether you’re actively shopping for a camper or simply dreaming about your next adventure, stop by, step inside, and join the conversation.  We look forward to sharing our passion for lightweight, adventure-ready camping with the PCT community.

2:45 – 3:15 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Altra Running booth:  Build-Your-Own-GORP Bar.  Trail snacks have come a long way, but it’s still hard to beat Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts. Come by the Altra booth to concoct your very own trail mix from an assortment of ingredients ranging from the traditional raisins and peanuts to items a little more unexpected. Check back often for activations and activities within the booth! 

3 – 3:30 pm:  Presentation at the Stage by Trail Keepers of Oregon:  Caring for Oregon’s Trails: Stewardship, Skills, and Community.  Trail Keepers of Oregon (TKO) works to protect, maintain, and enhance Oregon’s hiking trails through volunteer stewardship, education, and community engagement. From clearing fallen trees to educating trail users about Leave No Trace principles and responsible recreation, TKO helps ensure trails remain safe, accessible, and enjoyable for future generations. Working in partnership with public land managers and local communities, TKO supports trails across Oregon through trail maintenance, volunteer training, accessibility initiatives, backcountry stewardship, and public outreach. This presentation will provide an overview of the work that goes into keeping trails open, the growing need for trail stewardship across Oregon, and the many ways volunteers can get involved—from trail maintenance and saw programs to leadership development, ambassador programs, and wilderness engagement. Join us to learn how everyday trail users can play a role in caring for the places they love.

3:30 – 4 pm :  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Outdoor Vitals booth:  Hiker Hangout.  Dive into the party with trivia, games, and drawings for a chance to win some major prizes!  We’re giving out around $2000 worth of gear and trail goodies this year so you don’t want to miss out.  P.S. We’re planning on meeting you ON THE TRAIL with some trail magic a day before PCT Days so keep an eye out for our stand!

4:15 – 4:45 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Zenbivy booth:  Win an Ultralight Sleep System!  Come by to watch a demo to learn why a Zenbivy bed is the only draft-free quilt system on the market and how you can turn any existing quilt into a Zenbivy with our Conversion Patch Kits.  Additionally, we’ll be giving away an Ultralight Bed and other great prizes.  Giveaway entry is available at the booth prior to the demo—must be present to win.

6 – 8 pm – PCT DAYS Sponsor Happy Hours at the Pavilion.  Sponsored by Garage Grown Gear.  All sponsor staff can enjoy a social gathering at the Pavilion by showing their wristband to the door monitor.  We will be offering wraps and snacks and everyone gets one free pint from Thunder Island Brewing!  Stick around for the amazing Portland based-band Night Heron on the stage at 8pm!   About Garage Grown Gear:  We aim to curate a marketplace that truly benefits and supports the brands we carry, the community we love, and the GGG team that hold it all together.  Great gear helps people get outside, and getting outside matters.  Based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota, GGG is known for its commitment to supporting small brands, providing quality UL gear, and having stellar customer service!  Learn more here:  https://www.garagegrowngear.com/

8 – 9:30 pm:  Night Heron on the Stage.   Portland-based band Night Heron offer a laidback blend of R&B, synth-pop, and yacht-rock with awesome lineup of musicians and incredible sound that is perfect for the night.  https://nightheronmusic.com/  Don’t miss this show!

10 pm:  Everyone except for sponsor staff and coordinator staff must vacate the fenced in / main festival area.

9 am:  PCT DAYS Day 2 Opens!  The gates open at 9am…get ready for another awesome day!  

9 am – 5 pm:  Headline Sponsor Featured Activity at the Cascade Locks Tourism Committee booth: Spin to Win.  Stop by and Spin-to-Win on our Schwinn Bike wheel-of-fortune.  Everyone is a winner!  Come chat with committee members and learn more about all the great things to see and do in Cascade Locks, the heart of the gorge.

9 am – 5 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Next Adventure booth:  Pack It, Spin It, Win It!  Swing by the Next Adventure booth all day long for games, prizes, gear talk, and plenty of trail-town fun.  Spin the Wheel: Step up and give the wheel a spin for a chance to score gear, swag, discounts, and other surprises. You never know what your next spin might bring.  Guess the Pack Weight: Think you know your gear?  Put your pack-weight skills to the test with three fully loaded backpacks: a day pack, an overnight pack, and a multi-day pack. Get closest to the actual weight of a pack and you could take that backpack home.

10:15 – 10:45 am:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the FarPointe Outdoor Gear booth:   What’s the weight? Hike the PCT!   Contestants will guess the weight of different items including a FarPointe Camp Set (top, bottom, socks, beanie), a pair of boots, a packed backpack, A Tarp, and a pair of Trekking Poles. Whoever is the closest to the weight wins. There will be 5 winners who will receive a FarPointe Outdoor Gear garment. 

11 – 11:30 am:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Sawyer booth:  Cards For Humanity: A Social Scavenger Hunt.  The same filter that’s in your backpack is changing lives around the world, so Sawyer is choosing to celebrate clean water with good company.  Swing by the Sawyer booth to grab your playing card and join your fellow hikers in a weekend-long scavenger hunt, with plentiful prizes up for grabs to those who successfully find and return with their matching pair.

11:45 – 12:15 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Gossamer Gear booth:  PCT Spelling Bee.  A spelling bee featuring Pacific Crest Trail-related words. Will include popular trail towns, hiking terms, outdoor equipment, and famous hiker names or figures.  Attendees can sign up throughout the morning, capped at 10 participants. The winner will receive a free pack!

11:45 – 12:30 pm:  Presentation by Liz “Snorkel” Thomas at the Stage:  Take your PCT hike from Dream to Reality.  Dreaming of hiking the PCT, JMT, or another distance trail and aren’t sure where to start?  In this approachable take on distance hiking, celebrated thru-hiker Liz Thomas will share stories from her book, the National Outdoor Book Award winning Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-hike.  With real-life stories from dozens of trails including the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails, Liz showcases expert tips by experienced hikers from a variety of ages, abilities, and backgrounds.  Part-story-telling, part how-to, this talk includes topics such as: gear, fitness, safety, nutrition, staying in good graces with family and friends on-and-off trail, and finding the time and money to hike for weeks or months.  Attendees are invited for a Q&A afterward as well as a book signing with the author.

12:30 – 1pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Mountain House booth – Mountain House Iron Chef Food Challenge.  We provide the meal, you provide the creativity.  Each contestant will have a variety of surprise ingredients to elevate our Mountain House meals and win over a panel of judges.  Winner might be in a food coma for weeks. 

1:15 – 1:45 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Six Moon Designs booth:  Where the Hike Am I?  Join us for a fast paced photo guessing game inspired by popular geographic challenge games.  Review photos from the PCT and guess their exact location.  The closest guess takes home the prize.  While signing up, take a shot at guessing the weight of a fully loaded backpack.  Closest guess wins a prize, announced right before the game begins.  

2 – 2:30 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Enlightened Equipment booth:  EE Trail Feud.  Join us for a backpacking-themed twist on Family Feud! Two Teams of 5 will go head-to-head answering fun survey-style questions all about trail life, backpacking gear, thru-hiker habits, camp struggles, and backcountry surprises.  The game will include 3 main rounds followed by a Fast Money finale where the winning team gets one last chance to prove they know the trail best. The team that comes out on top will win their choice of cozy trail gear: a pair of Torrid Booties, Mitts, or Hood.  Bring your best guesses, your trail knowledge, and your team spirit. It is time to find out who really knows backpackers best!

2:30 – 3:15 pm:  Presentation by the Pacific Crest Trail Association at the Stage:  The Trail Changes Us.  Join the PCTA to hear personal stories of adventure, challenge, friendship, and discovery on the PCT. Hikers will share how time on the Pacific Crest Trail inspired them and continues to shape their lives long after the journey ended.

3:30 – 4 pm:  Headline Sponsor Activity at the Durston Gear booth:  Sour Patch Kids Tournament.  Are you a connoisseur of the ultimate thru hiking snack, Sour Patch Kids? If so, come to the Durston booth to test how well you can blind identify the 5 flavors in a tournament. Get 2 wrong and you’re out. The last person standing takes home a free pair of our world’s lightest Iceline Trekking poles.

4:15 – 5 pm:  Title Sponsor Activity by the Mountain Shop at the Stage:  Beans, Farts, and Base Weights.  Welcome to the backpacking game show where trail wisdom, gear obsession, and questionable campfire nutrition collide! Think you know your backpacking gear? Put your trail knowledge to the test in the ultimate outdoor game show where every ounce, dollar, and calorie counts! The closer your guesses, the more points you earn. The top scorer advances to the final challenge for a chance to win outdoor gear, trail bragging rights, and the coveted title of Grand Poobah of the Backcountry. Come on down and test your numerical superpowers!

5:30 – 6:30/7:  PCT DAYS Raffle at the Stage.  There will be a LOT of great products to win as Scott “Squatch” Herriott and the PCT DAYS staff MC the activity. Raffle tickets are $2.00 each and will be available for sale on Friday & Saturday at the Info Booth.  You must be present to win or have someone present with your tickets.  Raffle proceeds are donated to the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West, the Pacific Crest Trail Association and Trail Keepers of Oregon. 

7:30 – 9:30 pm:  DJ/Music on the Stage – DJ Drew.  Sponsored by Treeline Review:  If you were here last year, you got to hear an amazing set by DJ Drew, which he’ll be serving up again to close out PCT DAYS!  If you weren’t here last year, why not?!   About Treeline Review:  You decide. At Treeline, we want you to buy right the first time and  are proud to be independent and reader-supported.  We only want the same thing as you—the best gear at the best price, learn more here: https://www.treelinereview.com/

10 pm:  Everyone except for sponsor staff and coordinator staff must vacate the fenced in / main festival area.

8 am – 11am:  PCT DAYS is over – Event Site Breakdown.  All sponsor booths in the main area and attendee tents must be taken down on Thunder Island by 10am.  Please practice Leave No Trace and clean up your camp area by disposing waste in the proper receptacles.  Thank you for attending…safe travels and please join us next year for the 20th Anniversary of PCT DAYS!