Celebrate

Salmon... Wildlife... Nature... Rivers... Native Tribes...

Connecting Humans & the Environment

Education

Award-winning natural resources education and activities.


Conservation & Stewardship

Learn about the important connections between humans and the environment.


Outdoor Recreation

Ranging from archery, to a climbing wall, to disc golf, and more.

Join us for Salmon Fest at Rocky Reach Dam & Discovery Center September 19-21, 2024!

2024 Event Dates:

SCHOOL DAYS – Thursday & Friday, September 19 & 20

COMMUNITY DAY – Saturday, September 21

LOCATION – Rocky Reach Dam & Discovery Center

Over 30 Years of celebrating Salmon!

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is a three-day natural resource education event that will be held this fall at the Rocky Reach Dam Discovery Center to celebrate the return of the salmon to the Wenatchee River. An exciting menu of hands-on activities and “edutainment” provides attendees from throughout North Central Washington a unique opportunity to discover and appreciate the complexities of the natural world and the significance of salmon to people of the northwest. 

Each year, student artists submit creations for use as our annual poster. See the winning creations from this year and years past.

Exciting Activities & Exhibits

Salmon Maze Reptile Show Native American Village Rolling Rivers Gyotaku Giant Fish Aquarium

Check out these fun hands-on activities and exhibits that have been a part of 
the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival. 

Want to help with Salmon Fest?  

Supplement your in-person visit with online resources!

Salmon "On-Line"

A Virtual Supplement to the "Reel" Deal

The best Natural Resources Event in the Northwest

Awards

Summit Award for Best Environmental Education & Best Children's Program Award

Washington Festivals and Events Association

National Environmental Leadership Award & "Sense of Wonder" Award

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Pinnacle Award — International award for “Best Environmental Education”

International Festivals and Events Association

Conservationist of the Year

Trout Unlimited

Volunteer Organization of the Year

American Fisheries Society

Outstanding Conservation Education

Environmental Education Association of Washington (EEAW)

Carl L. Sullivan Award — “Most Outstanding Conservation Education Event in the United States”

American Fisheries Society International Convention, Hartford, Connecticut

Summit Award for Environmental Education

Washington Festivals and Events Association

News

Click on a headline to read more.

Wenatchee River Salmon Fest Announces New Dates: September 19-21, 2024

Mark your calendars for the 32nd Anniversary of the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival September 19-21, 2024! Our two “School Days” will be ready to host North Central Washington students on September 19th and 20th, 2024 at Rocky Reach Dam & Discovery Center. We’re thrilled to be able to bring back the popular “Community Day” on…

Wenatchee River Salmon Fest Brings Back Community Day Sept. 23

Wenatchee, Washington – Swim on over to Rocky Reach Park and Discovery Center tocelebrate Salmon Peoples 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, food and fun. Wenatchee River Salmon…

Wenatchee River Salmon Fest Announces New Dates: September 21-23, 2023

“Celebrate Salmon People” at the 31st Anniversary of the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival September 21-23, 2023! Our two “School Days” will be ready to host North Central Washington students on September 21st and 22nd, 2023 at Rocky Reach Dam & Discovery Center. We’re thrilled to be able to bring back the popular “Community Day” on…

This event has been made possible thanks to generous support from the following organizations.
Check out the Sponsorship page for details on how your organization can join the event. 

Festival Hosts

Fun Fish Facts !

  • Salmon returning to the Wenatchee River travel 500 miles and over 7 dams from the Pacific Ocean to get to their place of birth.
  • The oldest salmon fossil found is 50 million years old.
  • The intricacies of a salmon’s genetic code insist that the salmon always faces upstream into the current. This means that when it navigates to the sea it swims tail first.
  • You can count the rings on a fish scale to determine its age, much like counting the rings on a tree.

Get in touch

Festival office

Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
12790 Hatchery Rd.
Leavenworth, WA 98826

Contact Us

Phone : (509) 548-6662 ext. 226

Additional contacts

Education Coordinator –  education@salmonfest.org

Vendor Coordinator –  vendors@salmonfest.org