Following a trend of Fall festival cancellations due to the continued COVID-19 pandemic, Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce has announced that 2020 Salmon Days two-day event will be replaced by several weeks of both virtual and live activities.
The event will feature a combination of event from previous years, but spread out to keep things safe. The virtual events will take place on the Salmon Days website, on social media including TikTok and the new Salmon Days phone app.
Virtual events will include:
- Coloring competition
- Art competition
- Arts & crafts show
- Recipe competition
- Parade
- Battle of the bands
- Hatchery webcam
- “First Salmon to Return” game
- Rock painting competition
But Salmon Days still has plans to include some live entertainment and events, which are meant to be safe for whatever social distancing looks like come October.
Live events will include:
- Golf tournament
- Farmers market
- OctoberFish food fest
- Chalk competition
- Skate competition
- Car show
Issaquah’s Salmon Days Festival has been around for over 50 years, showcasing the salmon’s returning to spawn in Issaquah Creek at the salmon hatchery. Held in the first week of October, the event typically generates revenue that local nonprofits and businesses depend on, according to Chamber CEO Kathy McCorry in a press release on this year’s changes.
“Little did we know that when we created the theme Salmon-Vision 2020, would we be envisioning Salmon Days 2020 as a virtual event with several weeks of activities scattered around Issaquah and the surrounding area,” McCorry stated.
In the past, the festival has included over 250 artists, 80 food vendors, five stages with live entertainment, carnival, parade, salmon BBQ, 5K “Run with the Fishes,” beer and wine gardens, free games for kids and a farmers market.
For more information visit salmondays.org.
