by
Makenna Schwab | Aug 29, 2024
Learn about the art of canoe-carving, dissect a fish, and navigate the life cycle of a migrating salmon at the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival. Bring the whole family to Community Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21. It’s a jam-packed celebration with interactive games, art, storytelling and fun at Rocky Reach Park and Discovery Center.
This year’s theme is Salmon Symphony – designed to honor salmon, celebrate cultural diversity, provide educational opportunities, and highlight many conservation efforts working together to protect Columbia River ecosystems.
Visitors will journey through a Native American village where they become immersed into a powerful, intertribal cultural experience. The event features 43 Native American educators and exhibitors representing 11 tribes and bands from the plateau region, Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Specialists from all around the Pacific Northwest will offer students and visitors opportunities to explore different aspects of fish, wildlife, healthy habitats and watersheds. The best part, admission to the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is completely free.
On September 19 and 20, Rocky Reach will transform into a hands-on classroom for about 2,000 third and fourth graders from around the region. Thursday and Friday will be dedicated for registered students only; the festival will be open to the public on Sept. 21. The Salmon Festival has received many awards, including “Best Children’s Program”, by the International Festivals and Events Association for integrating grade-level curriculum and creating a memorable educational experience for students, teachers, and visitors.
For more updates, visit salmonfest.org and follow the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival on Facebook. This year’s event is hosted by Chelan PUD, Friends of Northwest Hatcheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville Power Administration. Thanks to community sponsors Confluence Health, Cascade Autocenter, Wenatchee Sportsmen’s Association, Chelan Douglas Retirees Association, Crunch Pak, Stemilt and Microsoft.