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Return of salmon to Kokanee Creek to be celebrated next Sunday

It’s time to celebrate the annual return of the Kokanee salmon at Kokanee Creek Park this coming Sunday.
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Nelson naturalist Olivia van Jarrett yuks it up with Jerry the Moose before beginning the next tour at the RedFish Festival.

It’s time to celebrate the annual return of the Kokanee salmon at Kokanee Creek Park this coming Sunday, August 25. Get ready for spawning tours, dance, food and fun along, with a traveling art exhibit from Living Lakes, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the visitors centre.

This is the second annual RedFish Festival presented by the West Kootenay EcoSociety.  Guided channel tours run throughout the day where residents and campers can learn more  about these wonderful fish who return year after year, how they are the key to the web of life, and what we can do to protect them.

It wouldn’t be a festival without music, dance, bubbles, kids activities and good food. Local food vendors will be on hand all day for a meal or a treat. Opening the entertainment will be Slava’s Dance Fusion at 1 p.m. followed by music from Bessie Wapp and Friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in front of the visitors centre.

And it’s free.

“We were blown away by the response last year,” said the centre’s coordinator Mel Reasoner. “We could see that many folks really want to learn more about the Kokanee as well as enjoy a Sunday in the park.”

“We even had a bear fishing on the other side of the creek last year to entertain us,” added Reasoner, who cautioned it’s best to leave the dog at home.

This festival will feature a special traveling art exhibit presented by Living Lakes Canada which explores the Columbia Basin.

Nelson is one of several communities now putting on salmon festivals. The art exhibit will finalize at the Fairmont Festival the end of September.

Don’t miss this opportunity to spend the afternoon with the family and marvel at the thousands of RedFish, while having a fun time at the park.

The festival enjoys wide support from its sponsors, BC Parks, Columbia Basin Trust, RDCK Area E and F, The Nelson Star, and The Bridge.

For more details, go to www.ecosociety.ca or  facebook kokanee visitors centre.