It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, the nights are getting brisk and the salmon are beginning to spawn, all of which means Salmon Days is right around the corner.

“The streets are turned into a festival,” said Pauline Middlehurst, Spawnsorship and Promotions Manager for Salmon Days. “It’s bright and colorful and noisy and there (are) tons of things to see.”

This year’s festival on Oct. 4 and 5 will feature old favorites, as well as some new additions. Of course there will be food, lots of it featuring, of course, salmon.

What’s new

• This year’s new activities include the “Rage by the Stage” near the Rainier Boulevard Stage, as well as a safe and interactive mechanical bull.

• The U.S. Army is bringing in several simulators, including a parachute simulator, unmanned aerial vehicle flight simulator and a Hummer interactive video game, just to name a new. Their booth will be located across from the Rainier Boulevard Stage.

• “Rope-A-Phobia” is new to this year’s festival. This will be a high ropes course that ends in a slide down a fireman’s pole; the course will be on Rainier Boulevard.

• Home Depot is putting together a tile-making center where kids can decorate their own tile in any manner they choose. To check it out, visit the booth on First Avenue.

• “Sounds of Culture” will be at the Field of Fun. “It’s interesting and different musical instruments,” Middlehurst said. “Kids get to experience things from around the world.”

Returning favorites

• KIRO’s Ciscoe Morris will broadcast live from the Go Fish! stage on Front Street from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

• Festival Spectacle will once again feature European artist-in-residence Jeroen Mourik, who is organizing students from Newcastle Elementary in a dance performance based on this year’s theme of “What a Wonderful Whirl.”

• Rotary Run is back for either a 5k or 10k run, or Kids’ dash, starting from Joe’s parking lot.

• Pony rides are one of the most popular events at the festival, and will be located at the Field of Fun.

• Fish print making will be taking place on the steps of the Issaquah Police Department. Kids can make a fish print, then hang it up to dry at the station and pick it up later.

• Nylon Zoo lets kids dress up in animal costumes then parade around, making the movements and sounds of their animal. Then, they take off the costume and go inside a 60-foot-long salmon to listen to a story.

Parking is naturally a challenge every year during Salmon Days, however, there are a few options. Bikes can be ridden to the bike corral or there are shuttles available from the Issaquah Park and Ride, the Highlands Park and Ride and the Costco parking lot. Shuttles leave every 10 minutes and are $1 per person.

Music is a big part of Salmon Days, and there are four stages to choose from this year. For a full list of times and acts, see the Salmon Days insert in the Sept. 26 Reporter.

Art fans will have plenty to see at Salmon Days. Some of the highlights include Michael Loeffler’s Hatterdashery, where Loeffler brings his treadle sewing machine and, using traditional methods, creates hats made to order. Other attractions will include chain-saw wood carvings, metal sculpture and dipped candles.

Quick tips

• Wear comfortable shoes.

• Come hungry, because good food abounds.

• Wear layers, and bring an umbrella.

• Bring a camera.

• Take some time to go to the hatchery and try out “Gill”ivers Travels and fill out your passport to win a prize.

• Leave your pets at home.