PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — In its sophomore year, a Portland-raised rapper’s music festival established itself as a summer mainstay for fans of genre-bending artists.

The Best Day Ever came to McMenamins Edgefield’s Concerts On the Lawn series from Saturday, Sept. 13 to Sunday, Sept. 14. The second annual event featured a headlining performance from founder and Benson High School alum Aminé, in addition to Thundercat, Amaarae, Smino, MIKE, Zack Fox, Sounds by Dontā and Chlothegod.

But the festival wasn’t just about the music.

Aminé recently announced his latest New Balance collaboration, a sneaker inspired by his childhood of visiting Multnomah County’s North Portland library. While most prospective buyers will only have a chance to access the green glow-in-the-dark shoes through a raffle in October, the festival gave attendees the exclusive opportunity to secure the purchase on site. It also allowed them to enter for a chance to win an increasingly colorful, festival-inspired version of the shoe — which Grammy-winning artist SZA said she is “DEVASTATED” she cannot wear.

The intersection between music and fashion was apparent throughout the two-day event, with many festivalgoers and even performers sporting the merchandise Aminé has released throughout the years.

And in addition to the New Balance collaboration, the festival offered a lineup with several artists the rapper has collaborated with as well. Chlothegod, who was featured on his latest album “13 Months of Sunshine,” opened up Saturday with a drum-heavy set including tracks from her 2024 EP “I Feel Different Everyday.”

Zack Fox, also an actor and comic well known for his appearances in “Abbott Elementary, followed her performance with a high-energy DJ set. He spun original remixes of everything from PLUTO and YKNIECE’s TikTok viral “WHIM WAMIEE” to Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul.”

After Fox was Amaarae, a fellow Aminé collaborator featured on his duo album “Kaytraminé.” The Ghanaian, New-York-born Amaarae told the Troutdale audience she had never been to Portland in her life, quickly getting them familiar with her new and old afropop tracks like “Angels in Tibet” and “Starkilla.”

The event’s founder closed out the night with his headlining show, but only after a setlist from his longtime tour DJ Madison LST. Highlights of Aminé’s performance include seamless transitions from his Portland-inspired track “Woodlawn” to his lively summer 2023 single “4EVA,” and the fan-favorite remix of his “Red Mercedes” mixed with Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like Its Hot.”

While the first day of the festival brought warmer temperatures to concertgoers, Sunday brought a cooler, cloudier vibe — with an apt opening from Portland DJ Sounds By Dontā. He was joined by an entourage of local supporters as they danced to his varying setlist, which featured Metro Boomin’s rising track “Take Me Thru Dere” and even the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.”

MIKE was next to take the stage, not long after taking the mic for his own installment of NPR’s popular Tiny Desk Concerts. The New York rapper performed some tracks from “Showbiz!,” his critically-acclaimed work described as “his most refined, spiritual-sounding album to date.”

Fellow rapper Smino followed with his own set, captivating the crowd with his stage presence — despite informing them that he had minorly injured himself while playing golf not too long before. From “No Ls” to “Z4L,” the St. Louis native’s discography was met with fans who appeared to know every word. He was also joined by Aminé to perform “Passenger Princess” — although they had different stories on when Smino submitted his verse for the track.

Sunday’s headliner, Thundercat, brought the dynamic dance music the singer and record producer is known for. He told audience members that it was “Good to be back,” noting his performance at the Edgefield venue just last year for "In Yo Gil's City" tour.

The Best Day Ever fest was the first stop in Aminé’s “Tour De Dance” in support of his latest album. The world tour wraps up in Stockholm this December.