Donkey Creek Chum Festival set for Saturday

Fall may be here, but the festival season isn’t over yet with the ninth annual Donkey Creek Chum Festival set for Saturday (Sept. 19).

“(The festival) has grown into a community centered event that focuses on getting ready for the return of the salmon,” said Lindsey Johnson, executive director of Harbor WildWatch.

The goal of the event is to connect the community with the return of the salmon and provide information on environmental conservation for our local waterways, Johnson said.

These goals are achieved by creating a free, family friendly event that’s packed with fun; the event will feature a variety of activities for attendees of all ages.

“There are lots of events to observe on the water,” Johnson said.

New to the festival this year are mini hydroplane races, provided by the Gig Harbor Boat Shop, and dragon boat races, along with canoe and kayak races.

There are several local organizations participating in the event this year. Organizations chosen to participate in the festival are directly related to the event’s mission of waterway conservation, Johnson said.

Booths from about 25 local organizations will provide activities for attendees, including salmon tours and touch tanks hosted by Harbor WildWatch and a guess-the-weight contest for a Chum Salmon from PenMet Parks.

Local Kiwanis and fisherman clubs will be providing food, for a small donation, beginning at 11 a.m.

The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Harbor History Museum, 4121 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Donkey Creek Chum Festival set for Saturday."