salmon-daysLike any good fish story, this one got away.  That’s right, you just missed Salmon Days in Issaquah, WA and you should be ashamed of yourself.  Go ahead and cry it out.  I’ll wait.

Okay, enough.  You brought it upon yourself.  Now sit still and let me tell you what you missed, aka, rub it in.

Every year about this time the salmon leave the deep, salty waters of Seattle’s Puget Sound and they start swimming.  They swim through lakes and streams and wind their way to Issaquah Creek, where the water is shallow and clear.  They swim all the way to the hatchery in which they were born, they do their thing with the eggs and the stuff and then they die.  Needless to say the salmon don’t find the occasion as festive as we do.  I watched them for hours and never saw a single party hat.

The people, however, were all about the fun.  There’s the Grande Parade, which, obviously, is more than regular “grand” because it has an “e” on it which really classes up the joint.  There is a Foods of the World area and live music and tons of crafts and culture and FREE STUFF FOR KIDS TO DO! Seriously, tons. I weighed it.

The award-winning festival is set right in the heart of historic downtown Issaquah, which means that behind the assorted booths and whatnot you will find assorted bars.  And whatnot.  Also, more food.  And running.

The free event is held annually (this was the 40th) and it is the perfect time to visit Washington.  The days are warm, the nights are crisp and the leaves are changing.  Mark it on your calendar for next year and don’t forget your party hat.

Or your fish kite thingy:

Salmon Days

Salmon Days

All photos by W. Honea and T. Honea except for the fish kite thingy, photo courtesy of Nerd’s Eye View.

pixelstats trackingpixel