Wenatchee River Salmon Festival returns
Grand prize: Ellie Mae B. from Alpine Lakes Elementary in Leavenworth created the 2023 Salmon Festival Poster. Courtesy of Chelan County PUD
Macroinvertebrates: Students become caddisflies, stoneflies, and other aquatic insects in a game of tag. They quickly learn that some insects are more susceptible to environmental changes than others. Courtesy of Chelan County PUD
Long tent: Roger Amerman of the Choctaw Nation presents a series of historical photographs that show the significance of the Native American long tent as the center of tribal community. In this photo, Amerman is discussing the East-West orientation of the long tent at the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival in 2022. Courtesy of Chelan County PUD
Gyotaku art: An annual favorite, kids can create their own works of Gyotaku art, the traditional Japanese method of printing fish. Courtesy of Chelan County PUD
WENATCHEE — Swim on over to Rocky Reach Park and Discovery Center to celebrate the Salmon People 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. For the first time since 2019, community day is back for people of all ages to enjoy a full day of interactive games, art, storytelling and fun.
Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is a hands-on outdoor event that connects people and nature by providing opportunities that create meaningful and enriching education. Visitors can journey through a Native American village and become immersed into a powerful, intertribal cultural experience. Natural resource specialists from around the Pacific Northwest will offer opportunities to learn more about fish, wildlife, healthy habitats and watersheds.
On Sept. 21-22, the Salmon Festival at Rocky Reach will transform into an outdoor classroom for about 1,500 third- and fourth-graders from around the region. The day-long field trip integrates grade-level curriculum in a memorable, experiential way.
The event has been the recipient of multiple awards, including, “Best Children’s Program”, by the International Festivals and Events Association. The best part is, admission is free.
Please join us in 2023 to celebrate the festival’s 31st anniversary. For updates on the event, 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, and Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration.
Activities and Exhibits include:
Natural resources and cultural exhibits
Native American Village presented by Chelan PUD
Salmon Maze
Giant Fish Aquarium
Sardis Raptor Center, “Hunters of the Sky”
Gyotaku - Fish Printing
Salmon-Bots with NCRL (sphero—coding)
What’s that bird?
Rolling rivers
Raptors over the Wenatchee
Live Entertainment Schedule:
10-11:45 a.m. Dancing/ Drumming (River Ramble Arena)
11:45 a.m. Welcome (Main Stage)
12-1 p.m. Reptile Lady April Jackson (Main Stage)
1-2:30 p.m. Dancing/ Drumming (River Ramble Arena)
2:30-3:15 Live Music (Main Stage)
3:30-4:30 p.m. Reptile Lady, April Jackson (Main Stage)
Spotlight on Dancing, Drumming, & Cultural Presentations: Immerse yourself in the sights of sounds of traditional dancing and drumming during our pow wows, scheduled on Saturday, Sept 23 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. A pow wow is a celebration of life and a community gathering that allow visitors to share the Native American cultural traditions. Experience the music and dance that have been performed by Plateau Indian Peoples for centuries.
Spotlight on the Reptile Lady, April Jackson: Snakes, alligators, and lizards? Interact with reptiles from all over the world in this educational and fun show with the Reptile Lady, April Jackson. Perfect for children of all ages.
Salmon Fest Poster Contest: Every year, Third grade students from across Washington State submit their own artwork for a chance to be featured on the o-“fish”-al Wenatchee River Salmon Festival poster. The winning design from 2023 was created by Ellie Mae B. from Alpine Lakes Elementary. Special thanks to our partners at the Chelan County PUD for organizing this program.
For more information, contact Rachel Hansen: 509-661-4320, office, 509-470-4775, mobile, Rachel.Hansen@chelanpud.org
NCW Media Newspapers
- The Leavenworth Echo | Leavenworth, WA
- Cashmere Valley Record | Cashmere WA
- Lake Chelan Mirror | Chelan, Manson, Entiat, WA
- Quad City Herald | Brewster, Pateros, Bridgeport, Mansfield, WA
- Wenatchee Business Journal | Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan Counties, WA