10/05/2026
What a day!
I was so caught up in the moment and enjoying the festival that I somehow managed to take hardly any pictures! If you captured some of the fun, please share your photos in the comments below. We’d love to see the day through everyone else’s eyes!
The 2026 Salmon Meets Harvest Festival, held October 3, was a wonderful day of community, tradition, and celebration. The event continued the tradition of bringing together the 28th Annual Trinity River Salmon Festival and 22nd Annual Harvest Festival to celebrate the return of the fall salmon, the bounty of the harvest season, and the strength of our community.
A huge thank you to our key partners, the Trinity River Restoration Program, Nor-Rel-Muk Wintu Nation, North Fork Grange, and Trinity County Resource Conservation District, along with the many musicians, agencies, organizations, volunteers, and community members who brought the meadow to life.
And a special thank you to our incredible craft and food vendors! You filled the meadow with beautiful handmade wares, delicious food, and so much of the color and character that makes this festival feel like a true harvest celebration
The festival began with a traditional blessing from Sonny Hayward, Cheif of the Nor-Rel-Muk Wintu Nation. This year also brought something especially meaningful: for the first time in four years, the Wintu Educational and Cultural Council was able to provide traditionally prepared salmon for the community to enjoy. Having salmon back at the festival table was a welcome return and an encouraging sign for the salmon we gather each year to celebrate.
The day continued with music from two local favorites. The Ladies of the Canyon filled the meadow with their beautiful harmonies, followed by Trinity County’s own blues band, Hooda Thunkitt. Kids danced alongside our Super Salmon mascots, joined the Little Critters Parade, and enjoyed hands-on activities hosted throughout the meadow by participating organizations and agencies.
Other highlights included Turtle Bay Exploration Park’s live animal show, featuring some incredible animal ambassadors from both our own backyard and around the world.
And, of course, there was chili! 🌶️ The North Fork Grange’s 22nd Annual Chili Cook-Off was another crowd favorite, with seven contestants serving up their best recipes and an incredible 129 chili-tasting judges! After winning two years in a row, handing over the crown last year, Adam and Avalon Koeller made their comeback, sweeping this year’s competition and taking home top honors for both Judged Chili and People’s Choice!
More than anything, the Salmon Meets Harvest Festival was a celebration of the return of the salmon and the community that gathers each year to welcome them home. We’re grateful to everyone who showed up, pitched in, shared their talents, and helped continue this special Trinity County tradition.
Thank you for another wonderful Salmon Meets Harvest Festival. See you next year!
