Contact:
John Ford, Oroville Field Division, (530) 534-2306
Anna Kastner, DFG Manager, Feather River Fish Hatchery, (530) 538-2222
Pete Weisser, DWR Information Officer, (916) 653-3350
OROVILLE - The public is invited to attend the 15th annual Oroville Salmon Festival Friday, Sept. 25 and Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Feather River Nature Center. Sponsored by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and each organization mentioned below, the two-day festival will celebrate the yearly return of Feather River salmon and provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about these majestic fish.
Events on Friday, Sept. 25 include:
- A salmon and tri-tip barbecue from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Feather River Nature Center on Old Ferry Road. The event will be hosted by the Friends of the Feather River Nature Center. Tickets cost $20.
- A dance (“Salmon Chanted Evening”) from 8:30 p.m. to midnight at the Kelly Ridge Golf and Country Club Events Center, 5131 Royal Oaks Drive. Tickets cost $20. Dinner-Dance combination tickets are $35. Tickets are available at the Oroville Chamber of Commerce and at www.salmonchanted-evening.org. For more information, call 800-655-4653. Proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s “bridging the gap” project to connect the center with the river trail.
Events on Saturday, Sept. 26 include:
- The Salmon Run fun run, starting at 8:45 a.m. in River Bend Park at the west end of Montgomery Street. Participants can pick a 5K walk or run, a 10K run or the free kids’ half-mile fun run. For more information, please call (530) 370-2647.
- A traditional Maidu Salmon Ceremony, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Feather River Nature Center on Old Ferry Road. Admission is free.
- Free tours of the Feather River Fish Hatchery every half-hour from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., where salmon will be spawning, The Kiwanis Club and Checker’s Restaurant will be selling barbequed salmon at the Hatchery throughout the day.
- A Salmon Forum featuring Devin Bartley, DFG’s Aquaculture Coordinator, and Stacy Cepello, DWR Staff Environmental Scientist, at 1 p.m. at the State Theatre, 1489 Myers Street in downtown Oroville. These salmon experts will explain the life cycle, current status and future of Feather River salmon and will answer questions from the audience. Admission is free.
- A Salmon Festival Faire, held all day in downtown Oroville. The Faire will feature music, food, art, vendors and games. Until noon, educational films about salmon and the Feather River will be shown on a continuous basis at the State Theatre.
