As a family with a young child, we take every opportunity to spot and feed fish. So we were excited last October to attend the annual Salmon Days Festival, the largest annual community event in downtown Issaquah, honoring the arrival of Pacific Northwest salmon to local creeks and lakes. The festival is coming up again soon; here’s what you’ll find:
Quick Facts
- Date: Oct 3 & 4, 2026
- Location: Sunset Way, Issaquah Downtown
- Hours: 10 am – 6 pm
- Admission: Free
- Kid-friendly: Yes
- Time Needed: Half a day
- Parking: See below for parking information
Our Experience
We visited on day two of the festival, Sunday afternoon, for a less crowded experience and fewer wait lines for the kids’ activities. Our 4-year-old had a blast going through the giant inflatable bounce houses, slides, face painting, and “zorbing”(rolling around in a large plastic sphere), multiple times. We enjoyed desserts from Boehm’s Candies and watching the salmon at the Issaquah Creek Bridge hatchery at the end of the day. And of course, we stopped by the Issaquah city playground before heading home. Yes! She played in the playground after all that fun in the festival activities area!
Watching salmon in Issaquah creek (Photo courtesy of Salmon Days Festival)
The Festival
Salmon Days is celebrated every year during the first weekend of October for two days. During this time, a portion of Downtown Issaquah becomes the festival floor, hosting a grand parade, live music concerts, the Field of Fun with kid-friendly activities, local food vendors, and community booths. It is considered the largest two-day annual community event in Washington State, and it’s an amazing opportunity for families to watch salmon in Issaquah Creek.
(Photo courtesy of Salmon Days Festival)
Key Attractions
Field of Fun: Field of Fun offers a lineup of kid-friendly activities set up on the Veterans Memorial Field lawn. Last year, beyond the bounce houses and face painting, we explored inflatable slides, an animal petting booth, sports ball arcades, and more. All three of us had a blast rolling around in the inflatable zorb.
Fish: Don’t miss the reason for the festivities—the salmon running in the creek.
Food and entertainment: Food is one of the festival’s central focuses, with 75+ local vendors. Booths are located in the train depot parking area dubbed “Foods of the World.” Come hungry. We usually hunt for unique coffee and dessert vendors at festivals. This year, I see Bean Hut Espresso and Natalie’s sugarcane and desserts on the list. We’ll be there! As a Pacific Northwest event, there is, of course, a beer garden on the festival grounds near the community stage where live music is the attraction. This area is restricted to ages 21 and up.
(Photo courtesy Issaquah Salmon Hatchery)
Artisan booths: With over 200 unique local artisan and artist booths, lined up along downtown streets, this festival is a treat for shoppers. You’ll find unique jewelry, arts and crafts, pottery, and clothing, all from local small businesses.
I love that budding entrepreneurs get to showcase their products and services here. It’s a great place to find Cruz the snail children’s book, written by a toddler’s dad.
Don’t miss: During the Dock Dogs event, pet dogs jump from the dock into a pool of water to retrieve a toy. We had so much fun watching and cheering for the participating dogs.
Plenty of food options (Photo courtesy Salmon Days Festival)
Amenities & Accessibility
- Restrooms: Portable toilets installed around the festival grounds; Flushable toilet at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery closes by 4 p.m. on weekends
- Picnic areas: Picnic tables in Issaquah city playground
- Stroller or Wheelchair accessibility: Yes
- Dog-friendly policies: Allowed on leash in the festival grounds
- Parking: The easiest option is to park at the Issaquah Transit C, Center, which is free on weekends, and take the festival shuttle marked “Special” to the festival. Check festival information for more free and paid parking options.
Parent Tips
- Prioritize things like face painting and balloon twisting, since these usually get long lines.
- Dress up for the weather; the festival is on open grounds. Layering up is best.
- Use the Festival Information FAQ for information on booth location and parking directions.
- Wear comfortable shoes—expect lots of walking and standing in lines for activities.
- Pack enough drinking water for the entire crew.
- Use a stroller for young kids.
- Tips for avoiding crowds: Go late after 3 p.m. to avoid long lines for kids’ activities
Would We Come Back?
Personally, we love attending Salmon Days Festival because we get to enjoy it as a whole family, and last year we had a blast with the food, desserts, kids’ activities, and specifically the Dock Dog event. This is a perfect weekend celebration for families and kids of all age groups. The festival has something for everyone.
