Alaskans turned out by the hundreds on Aug. 10 for the state’s third annual Wild Salmon Day, to celebrate the fish deeply rooted in the state’s history, culture and economy.
Celebrations in Anchorage, Cooper Landing, Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau, Palmer, Sitka, Soldotna and Talkeetna brought out the crowds to enjoy a taste of fresh caught wild Alaska salmon and learn more about this fish and the importance of maintaining healthy habitat to assure sustainability of this abundant natural resource. Most events were free of charge.
In Anchorage and Palmer, the festivities hosted by The Alaska Center at a midtown park included a salmon barbecue, live music, family friendly activities and more. Everyone attending the Cooper Landing salmon barbecue, hosted by Trout Unlimited, was asked to bring a dish to share for the gathering at Gwin’s Lodge.
At Fairbanks, the Tanana Valley Watershed Association hosted a floating film festival down the Chena River with talks from salmon and their importance to the Alaska lifestyle.