Are there any COVID requirements and/or precautions in place?
Yes. Everyone is required to wear a face mask at the festival as mandated by the King County Health Department.
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Sanitizing stations are scattered throughout the festival
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Masks may be removed only while eating
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Every table in the food court has sanitizer and tables are cleaned between each use
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Directional signs will direct guests to “Shop Right” so that we all “swim in the same direction”
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Booths have been spread out to allow for more social distancing
What is new/different at the festival this year?
There are a lot of new activities this year, but probably the most important ones are:
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Over 300 artisans selling beautiful hand-crafted items
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Over 40 food booths in the "Foods from Around the World" Food Court
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Dozens of local non-profits
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Salmon Viewing areas and private pre-registered tours at the Hatchery
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Dock Dogs is a national competition this year – elevating it to a new level and bringing in more excitement than ever before. Located in the Field of Fun
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Streaming Live Stage by Kaleidoscope with 20+ live bands
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The Bike Corral is back! Ride your bike to the festival and lock it safely parked in the Bike Coral
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NEW – “Salmon Days Trail” a fun new app taking you “Behind the scenes” to local restaurants and retailers for fun games and prizes
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Inflated Soccer Kicking Games in the Field of Fun
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Inflated Axe Throwing in the Field of Fun
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Inflated Connect 4 in the Field of Fun
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Robotics in the Field of Fun
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Take Home Mask Making in the Field of Fun
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Activities from our Friends in the Army in the Field of Fun
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Five Minute Escape Room from Issaquah Rotary in the Field of Fun
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The Beer and Wine Garden will be at the south end of Front Street, with Jenga and Corn Hole games available to play while enjoying an adult beverage
What won't be at the Festival this year?
We will miss out on a few of our favorites, and though they will be absent we look forward to their return next year. This is due to many different reasons associated with the pandemic such as: long delays, in shipping, budget shortfalls, staff shortages, and an abundance of safety and/or lack of time and resources.
Unfortunately these activities just could not happen this year.
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5k Run
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Kiwanis Salmon BBQ
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Grande Parade
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Carnival
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Things to do for the 12 and under crowd - we hope to see them back again next year after they have had the chance to be vaccinated.
Where can I see the salmon?
Due to COVID-19, the Issaquah Hatchery will not be open during the 2021 Salmon Days Festival. Nearby alternate viewing areas to see the salmon are:
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Newport Bridge on Newport Way SW by Front St S
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Bridge on W Sunset Way
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NW Dogwood St west of Rainier Blvd N
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Confluence Park Bridge
Salmon Days Shuttle
Parking fills up quickly around downtown. There are 3 alternative parking areas serviced by the Salmon Days Shuttle.
Stops are located at:
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Costco Corporate parking lot (1010 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98029)
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12th Ave NW & Newport Way NW (1040 12th Ave NW, Issaquah WA 98027)
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Issaquah Highlands parking garage east of Regal Cinema (936 NE Park Dr, Issaquah WA 98029)
Shuttles drop of at the north and south ends of the festival. The La-Z-Boy parking lot and at the Community Center. $5.00 per person includes round trip. 10 and under ride free. First Shuttle is at 9AM and the Last Shuttle at 6:30PM each day.
Disabled Parking
Disabled Parking spots can be found near the festival at:
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Dollar Tree
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Community Center
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Issaquah Library
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Bank of America
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Confluence Park
Road Closures
From 6AM on Saturday morning to approx. 8PM Sunday night, Front Street will be closed from Sunset to Dogwood. Roads close to vendors at 9am on Saturday and Sunday. The Grande Parade on Saturday morning and the Rotary 5K Run on Sunday morning has been canceled due to COVID-19.
Festival Parking
Pay Parking Lots are operated by local Issaquah non-profit organizations
DOLLAR TREE
Supporting *Boy Scout Troop 636*
80 Front St. S.
ISSAQUAH COMMUNITY CENTER
Disabled Parking only
301 Rainier Boulevard S
CLARK ELEMENTARY
Supporting *Clark Elementary PTA*
400 1st Avenue SE
ISSAQUAH VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL/
ISSAQUAH HIGH SCHOOL
Supporting *Issaquah Middle School PTSA*
600 2nd Ave SE and 700 2nd AVE SE
ISSAQUAH VALLEY ELEMENTARY
Supporting *Issaquah Valley Elementary PTA*
555 NW Holly Street
LIVING HOPE BIBLE CHURCH
Supporting *Living Hope Bible Church*
205 Mountain Park Boulevard
BANK OF AMERICA
Supporting *Sammamish/Issaquah Young Life*
655 Front Street N.
COCONUT THAI
Supporting *Sammamish/Issaquah Young Life*
660 Front Street N.
OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH
Supporting *Boy Scout Troop 676*
745 Front Street S.
VIRGINIA MASON MEDICAL CENTER
Supporting *Boy Scout Troop 636*
100 NE Gilman Boulevard
Lost and Found
Found items can be brought to any of the three Salmon Days Information Booth or to Festival HQ at the Senior Center.
Lost Children & Information for Parents
Stay with the lost person. If you are close to an Info Booth, go there and they will know what to do. And/or contact Festival Headquarters at the Senior Center (next to the Field of Fun) immediately to report the incident.
First Aid
For this year, First Aid booths are located in or right next to the Information Booths.
Where can I find an ATM?
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Dogwood Street
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Chicago Pastrami
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Alder Street
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Foods of the World North
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Pedestrian Park
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Foods of the World South
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Issaquah Library
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W Sunset Way
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Community Center
More about the history of the Salmon Days Festival
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In 1970, the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce presented the first Salmon Days.
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The event grew out of the desire to replace the once popular Labor Day celebration, as well as a need to celebrate one of Issaquah’s greatest treasures – the annual return of the salmon.
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In the beginning, the festival attractions included the Kiwanis Salmon BBQ, salmon hatchery displays, an art show, children’s parade led by the late J.P. Patches, Little League football games at Veterans Memorial Field, fire crew competitions and more.
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In 1980 the Salmon Days festival and Grande Parade underwent two major changes that have been credited with altering the course of the festival: Salmon Days became a Seafair-sanctioned event and a festival float was created again.
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To aid the growth process, merchandise was introduced, the first paid festival director was hired and large ohfishal spawnsors came onboard in the 80’s
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In 1990, the festival introduced the Salmon Days Limited Print, a signed and numbered run of 450 prints featuring original artwork. The festival retired the collection at the end of 2003 and the majority of the past prints have sold out.
Today, Salmon Days is still presented by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce with the goal of providing a community celebration focused on honoring the miraculous return of the salmon, almost two tons each year.
Robin Kelley, Executive Director of Friends of the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (FISH), explains the importance of salmon to our ecosystem
Did you know that more than 137 species of fish and wildlife - from orcas, bears, river otters, to caddisflies – they all depend on the Northwest salmon for their survival? It is more important than ever to do what we can, to ensure that the salmon survive in our local lakes and streams and we can continue to celebrate their return!
