The 59th annual Oregon Trail Days festival in Tenino will be held from July 24 to 26 and will largely take place in Tenino City Park, where the Quarry Pool will be open all weekend, along with events in the downtown area.
Events this year include the Tenino Farmers Market’s Blue Ribbon Pie Contest, the Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre production of “Once Upon a Mattress,” and the Capital City 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
New this year is Castle Mini-Faire, which will take place on Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre land near the high school reader board and Castle Realty.
The traditional Pioneer Village will have 30 hands-on activities, including a return of the Black Powder Shooting Experience. Visitors will have the opportunity to safely fire a traditional black powder rifle and discover firsthand what shooting was like more than 175 years ago, under the guidance of experienced instructors, a news release from event organizers stated. An authentic black powder blank charge will deliver all the real flash, thunder and cloud of smoke, with no live bullets or solid projectiles being used.
"One of the things people have told us most is that they missed the Black Powder Experience where kids could experience what it was like to fire a rifle," Cheryl Pearce, president of the Tenino Area Chamber of Commerce and festival co-chair, said in a news release. "We are excited our committee members were able to safely bring back this activity for families to enjoy."
The Tenino No. 564 Fraternal Order of Eagles will feature live music on Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m. Additionally, they will host a car show from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, a beer garden, a silent auction and raffles to raise money to refinish their dance floor, according to the release.
A complete schedule of events can be found at www.teninoacc.org/events.
The official Oregon Trail Days 2026 schedule is as follows:
Thursday, July 23:
• Noon - 6 p.m. – Tenino Quarry Pool Open
• 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. – Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre presents “Once Upon a Mattress” at Tenino High School
Friday, July 24:
• 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. – (Willamette Agate & Mineral Society) WAMS Rock & Gem Show
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Information Center staffed by the Tenino Community Service Center
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – South Thurston Fire & EMS First Aid Station
• 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. – Flag Ceremony by VFW Post 5878
• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Pioneer Village
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Tenino Depot Museum: Living History Experience, Wooden Money Printing, Blacksmith
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Food, art and craft vendors
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Tenino Oregon Trail Days Quilt Show in the Quarry House
• 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. – Tenino Quarry Pool open
• 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. – Black Powder Shooting Experience
• Time to be announced – Covered Wagons on Display
• 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Live Outdoor Music and Beer Garden, featuring Exit 88 Band
• 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. – Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre presents “Once Upon a Mattress” at Tenino High School
Saturday, July 25:
• 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Capital City 3-on-3, Parkside School
• 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. – WAMS Rock & Gem Show
• 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. – Castle Realty and Tenino Young-at-Heart Theater "Mini-Faire": Castle Bouncy House, face painting and games
• 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Information Center staffed by Tenino Community Service Center
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – South Thurston Fire & EMS First Aid Station
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Pioneer Village
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Tenino Depot Museum: Living History Experience, Wooden Money Printing, Blacksmith
• 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Food, art and craft vendors
• 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Tenino Oregon Trail Days Quilt Show in the Quarry House
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. – Tenino Farmers Market Blue Ribbon Pie Contest
• 10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m. – Tenino Lions Club Grand Parade
• 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Creekside Conservancy Traditional Salmon Bake, sponsored by Lucky Eagle Casino
• 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. – Capital City 3-on-3 Dunk Contest
• 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. – Tenino Quarry Pool open
• After the parade – Covered Wagons on Display
• 12 p.m. - 11 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Beer Garden
• 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. – Black Powder Shooting Experience
• 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. – FIN the Migrating Salmon Interactive Exhibit
• 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Car Show
• 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Live Music: Shoot from the Hip Band
• 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. – Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre presents “Once Upon a Mattress” at Tenino High School
• 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Live Music: Andra and Tarik
• 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Car Show awards and auction winners
• 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Live Music: Andra and Tarik
• 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. – Tenino Eagles Live Music: Ethan Tucker
Sunday, July 26:
• 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. – Capital City 3-on-3, Parkside School
• 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. – WAMS Rock & Gem Show
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. – Information Center staffed by the Tenino Community Service Center/Tenino Food Bank Plus
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. – South Thurston Fire & EMS First Aid Station
• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Tenino Depot Museum: Living History Experience, Wooden Money Printing, Blacksmith
• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Food, art and craft vendors
• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Tenino Oregon Trail Days Quilt Show in the Quarry House
• 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. – Pioneer Village: step back 100-plus years with 28 family-friendly, hands-on frontier activities
• 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Gospel Sunday: Cornerstone Community Church Service
• 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. – Capital City 3-on-3 three-point contest
• 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. – Tenino Quarry Pool open
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Tenino Depot Museum America 250 Birthday Cake Ceremony
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Gospel Sunday: Tenino Assembly of God Church Service
• 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. – Tenino Young-at-Heart Theatre presents “Once Upon a Mattress,” at Tenino High School
• 4 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. – Tenino VFW Post 5878 Closing Flag Ceremony
