Salute to the Sockeye
The Salute to the Sockeye Festival which takes place on the dominant year of the four-year cycle (2026, 2030, 2034).
Indigenous have been celebrating the return of the sockeye for many years.
October 2026
Open 8:30am - 4:30 pm
Visit The Adams River Salmon Society at Tsútswecw Provincial Park
during the 2026 Salute to the Sockeye Festival.
Dates of the 2026 Festival are October 9-25
Join us for some Interpretive Guided Tours, Cultural entertainment & Education sessions, First Nations Ceremonies and take a hike along the trails to watch the sockeye return for their quadrennial spawn. Find time to check out the Winter Home too - up along the Wade Road trails above the Adams River Bridge.
Activities and adventures for all ages.
Photo Credit: Bruce Moffat
Features
Salute to the Sockeye Festival Dates: October 9-25, 2026
Park Gates open 830am-430pm during the Salute Festival
Opening Ceremonies
Date: Friday October 9
- Opening Welcome Ceremony
- Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw Cultural Events
Local Merchandise & Artisan art for sale as part of our Artisan Market
Artisan booths open 10am-4pm during the Salute Festival
Excellent selection of locally sources, designed and made items.
Food & Beverages – Great Local Food Vendors onsite!
Food Vendors open 10am-4pm during the Salute Festival
Looking for Local Accommodations? Click Here.
Artisans Market
Salute to the Sockeye 2026
The Artisan Market will have more artwork than ever. Some of the types of creations you will see this year are:
Paintings original and prints (on various mediums), drawing, painted feathers and leaves, photography, fabric art, pottery (mugs, platters, trays, honey pots, bowls (baby and pet), raku, sculpture, cards, children's colouring books, photography, jewelry, woollens, stained glass, soaps, salmon dog biscuits and pet bowls, artisanal foods, face painting.
First Nations Art: Sculptures, carvings, pine needle, birch bark and cedar baskets, birch bark biting, jewelry, dream catchers, hand tied fishing flies, purses, beaded and woolen items, drums and rattles.
Open 10am- 4pm during the Salute to the Sockeye Festival
Educational Interpretive Program
Free of charge to BC students in Grades 2 through 5 during the Salute to the Sockeye
Adams River Salmon Society - supported by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is pleased to announce that an Educational Interpretive Program will be available, free of charge, to BC students in Grades 2 through 5 during the Salute to the Sockeye.
The program is available Monday through Thursday (excluding Thanksgiving) and schools are required to pre-register for this program in order to have their students participate.
Please direct inquiries regarding the Educational Interpretive Program to education@salmonsociety.com
We will put together a priority list of classrooms based on availability until all of our available spaces are filled.
Once you receive your booking form, please send back to us ASAP so that we can schedule your classroom in.
Booking confirmation emails will be sent once a spot has been secured based on your registration form.
Deadline for all booking inquiries is October1, 2026. APPLY today to avoid disappointment.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Since the 1970’s Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been a proud partner of the Salute to the Sockeye festival and provides educational and interpretive programming during the event.
As in previous years, the Adams RIver Salmon Society, through the support of DFO, will be delivering an on-site educational program to an anticipated 7,000 British Columbia elementary school students in grades 2 through 5, free of charge.
Teachers wishing to register their class in the Educational Interpretive Program should contact Adams River Education Team directly by emailing education@salmonsociety.com
Only pre-registered confirmed classrooms will be able to participate in this free education program during the Salute to the Sockeye Festival.
BC Parks
Since the parks creation, BC Parks has been honoured to co-host the celebration of the largest Sockeye Salmon run in North America.
The Province, in collaboration with Little Shuswap Lake Band are in lock step working to maintain the areas natural and cultural integrity for future generations use and enjoyment.
Opportunities are provided for visitors to pursue safe & accessible recreational activities that are in keeping with the natural character of the park.
Interpretive facilities and services help visitors appreciate and understand the Salmon life cycle and ecology and relationship with surrounding ecosystem.
Fish, wildlife and nature viewing opportunities are provided through facilities that are accessible & harmonized with the surrounding landscape and environment.
BC Parks implements programs that continually assess impact from commercial and public recreation and respond with adaptive tools to moderate those influences.
Interpretive Cabin
- Storyboards of the life cycle of the salmon
- Touch screen computers with interactive activities and information
- Life-sized spawning salmon display
- Education and Interpretive volunteers to help answer questions
- Interpretive Walk Abouts
