📆 Saturday, October 5th – Sunday, October 6th
🕓 10 am – 6 pm daily
🎟 Free to attend
📍 Downtown Issaquah, Washington
🗺️ Map and program link here
You would be mistaken if you thought Seafair was over in August. The city of Issaquah hosts Salmon Days, a Seafair community event to celebrate the annual return of the salmon. Each year, over two tons of the fishies make the 42-mile journey from the ocean to their birthplace to spawn.
The magic of the salmon’s return from the sea is a PNW natural wonder. Scientists believe salmon can find the exact location of where they went into the sea to make their return. Then, they use their unparalleled sense of smell to find their way to the creek where they were created. Yes, they smell their way back home.
Salmon Days offers a range of activities to welcome their return, including:
- Enjoy the Salmon Days Parade on Saturday, October 5th
- Watch pups fly at the Puget Sound dock dog competitions
- Check out the wares of local food, art, and craft vendors
- Head to the Field of Fun, where kids can enjoy inflatables, watch robotics demonstrations, color, and get a selfie with Sammy the Salmon
- Go to the Kiwanis Club Famous Salmon BBQ for a salmon sandwich
- Catch two days of live entertainment at the Community Center Stage.
Of course, no Salmon Days is complete without a visit to the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery to welcome the fish home. Paid parking lots for this free event support local nonprofit organizations. King County Metro will run a shuttle between the Issaquah Transit Center and the event.
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