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Family Friendly Festival Celebrates Chinook Salmon
Salmon fest pix
Making salmon print T-shirts is just one of the activities that attendees can enjoy at the Stanislaus River Salmon Festival in Knights Ferry on Saturday, Nov. 11. File Photo

For the ninth year, the Stanislaus River Salmon Festival will be hosted in Knights Ferry, with the event coinciding with the peak migration of Chinook Salmon. Nature lovers, young and old, are encouraged to attend the festival at the Knights Ferry Recreation Area on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, FISHBIO, and other local partners have come together to provide the opportunity for the whole family to get outdoors and learn more about the diverse resources of Stanislaus County as well as the importance of protecting them. The event is focused on providing interactive, hands-on activities for children via exhibitors from local agriculture, state and federal fisheries agencies, and both for-profit and non-profit groups.

The event is a great opportunity to learn more about salmon and steelhead, river restoration, agriculture, and water here in the area. The festival will also feature several fun activities for adults and children including: live music, face painting, fish print T-shirt designs, fly fishing demos, and native animals. For those who enjoy great food, two local 4-H chapters and Knights Ferry School, along with the Oakdale Lions Club, will again be serving deliciously prepared barbeque lunches.

Last year, over 4000 people visited the festival as this is a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends and learn about the region’s diverse resources. The purpose of the free, family-friendly outdoor event is to educate community members, especially young people, by promoting protection of river habitat for the Chinook salmon and steelhead.

Attendees will also be able to purchase a Salmon Festival 2017 Calendar featuring artwork from local elementary and middle school students for only $5. All proceeds go to support next year’s festival.

Calendar sales, in addition to support from Oakdale Irrigation District, Oakdale Tourism and Visitors Bureau and the Stanislaus County Fish and Wildlife Committee continue to allow organizers to make this a free family friendly event.

More information and artwork from previous calendars can be found on the Festival Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SRSFest.