The Winters Salmon Festival, which was inaugurated last year to celebrate the return of salmon in the lower reaches of Putah Creek, will return to Winters on Saturday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Rotary Park.
The event features family-oriented programs, face painting, storytelling, crafts, a trout derby, fish printing, live music, local food trucks, educational programming and more. There is no charge to attend.
A highlight will be guided “salmon tours” on the creek’s edge throughout the festival, as well as a parade led by some of the performing musicians to kick off and close the day’s festivities. Performers include the Muddy Waders, Sourdough Slim, the Putah Creek Crawdads and Tribal Calling. Food will be available via several local purveyors including the Buckhorn Steakhouse.
Other highlights will be the winning works of a local art contest, which will be displayed inside the Community Center, as well as fly casting lessons and numerous raffle and auction items donated by local artists and businesses.
The festival is coordinated by the City of Winters, U.S Bureau of Reclamation, Solano County Water Agency, Putah Creek Council, Solano County Parks, Putah Creek Trout, local businesses and interested citizens.
About the salmon
Following several years of absence, in December of 2012, fall-run Chinook salmon returned to the lower reaches of Putah Creek where they could be seen spawning from the car bridge and Winters Putah Creek Park.
Their return may be attributed to significant restoration initiatives in Lower Putah Creek which include scarification projects and the enhancement of the riparian and spawning areas within the waters of Putah Creek. Many of these efforts are the work of The Solano County Water Agency, Putah Creek Council, Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee, The City of Winters, Winters Putah Creek Committee, landowners, and many more.
Visit the Winters Salmon Festival website or Facebook page for additional information.
