Wenatchee River Salmon Festival

Activities

Family Day, Saturday - September 20th

Discovery Hunt: Kids participate in a discovery hunt and test their knowledge of our natural resources. Find the activities, answer questions, collect 10 stamps and win a prize!

Gyotaku: Capture your Salmon Festival experience in the same manner that Japanese fishermen once recorded their daily catch, by making a fish rubbing (‘gyo’ means ‘fish’ and ‘taku’ means ‘rubbing’). After the fish is painted, paper is carefully pressed over and you get to take home a colorful, lasting print.

Migration “mini” golf: Play a round of miniature golf while learning about the migration of salmon – it’s not so easy!

Costume Parade: Children and parents are invited to dress in colorful costumes of birds, insects, wolves, and other creatures and “fly, hop, crawl, swim or walk” in a short parade down Chinook Avenue.

Native American Village: In this intertribal village you have an opportunity to observe the Native American Indian culture. Watch the preparation of salmon using traditional methods of baking and drying, see handmade pelts, baskets, beadwork and a traditional handmade Long Tent in the Native Plateau tradition. Also this year we have renowned storyteller and flute player Gene Tagaband to captivate audiences with unique regalia and traditional stories; audience participation included! Check at front entrance and village site for times.

Sardis Raptor Center: Gaze into the eyes of the fast flying falcon and the majestic eagle, or learn fascinating facts about hawks and owls at the Hunters of the Sky presentations by one of the largest raptor rehabilitation centers in Washington.

Salmon Storytelling Tent: In this colorful 30-foot long nylon inflatable salmon tent, audiences will be entertained with a variety of environmentally themed stories. Entertainment for the whole family!

Salmon Maze: In this 40 by 40 foot barrier-free maze, experience the many challenges of aquatic life and migration when you discover yourself as salmon, hatching and struggling to survive. Meet predators along the way as you go through the salmon's amazing life cycle.

What’s Hatchin? Take a guided hatchery tour by a hatchery employee and learn about the salmon's life cycle, see live salmon eggs, discover how fish are aged, and watch the yearling salmon eat lunch.

Eye to Eye with Our Local Fish: Do you know what fish you are looking at? Gaze through the crystal clear waters this custom made 35 ft. aquarium and see freshwater fish up close. Learn more about our local fish species with a “user friendly” identification process.

Health Screening Unit:NEW THIS YEAR! Salmon Festivalis very excited to host the Northwest Lions Foundation and their health screening unit. These screenings are FREE of charge and open to the public, all ages welcome. There are 5 general areas of screenings that our Unit services, Diabetes – Glaucoma – Blood Pressure – Hearing – Vision. And it only takes a few minutes!

Discovery Garden: Students from the Cascade Discovery Program (an alternative high school located on fish hatchery grounds) demonstrate horticultural practices in their beautiful garden.

Exhibits: Many agencies and organizations in our community share information through "hands-on" interactive activities. The Mid-Columbia Fisheries Resource Office, Audubon Society, Chelan County Dept. of Natural Resources, Grizzly Bear Project and more will be joining us for this salmon celebration.

Fishing Simulator: NEW THIS YEAR! Festival host Friends of Northwest Hatcheries will give you a chance at reeling in a Salmon with the Fishin’ Simulator, known for its realistic experience. Maybe you can catch the Big One!

Creativity Corner Art Tent: Express yourself by creating your own salmon art with glue, paints, glitter and a lot more! Professional artists will help you find your creative side!

Rolling Rivers: Students and parents alike learn-through-playing in a giant sandbox! This hands-on interactive watershed modeling activity is a unique learning experience, in which participants learn the fundamental elements of a healthy and properly functioning watershed.

Find the Bobbers! A trio of musical mayhem, the Bobbers will be on the grounds performing their fun, fishy tunes with delightful style and humor.

Chalk Art: Watch art come alive on the sidewalk with colorful chalk! Local artists donate their time to create original, nature inspired pictures and you can see it happen on Saturday morning. It is simply beautiful and unique.

Art and Craft Vendors: Find the perfect nature inspired gifts at the Arts Craft booths. The wonderful variety of items is all nature related, handmade or made in the U.S.!

Icicle Creek Nature Trail: Take a stroll on the beautiful one-mile trail that meanders along Icicle Creek. Keep an eye out for BIG SALMON looking for a place to spawn as their life cycle brings them back to where they began their journey.

Food Court: Try some tasty treats from our food court! A wide choice of snacks and full meals are available in the pleasant surroundings of Hatchery Park, next to the main stage

Outdoor Recreation Exhibits and Demos: Get Connected to the Great Outdoors! Join us at the outdoor recreation exhibit area where you will find everything to get started on a journey of discovery and fun! Experience the 24 ft. climbing wall, kayaking, fly fishing or disc golf; or try archery, fly tying, pellet gun target shooting and more! Get your questions answered about where to go, what to do and how to find it, in the Cascades!

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