South Lake Tahoe, Calif. –The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit invites residents and visitors to attend the Kokanee Salmon Festival the weekend of October 6 and 7, 2012, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. The event celebrates the annual fall migration of Kokanee salmon at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.
Participants can learn about the natural wonders of Taylor Creek and take part in many fun activities, including a delicious salmon barbecue, Kokanee trail runs, children’s activities, educational and streamside programs, and much more!
On Saturday at 2 p.m., Wild Things, Inc. will present a free wildlife program featuring live animals at the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater. The festival’s two new mascots, Sandy and Rocky Salmon, will make appearances each day and there will be a special appearance by Smokey Bear!
The Kokanee Salmon Festival and Oktoberfest at Historic Camp Richardson Resort, occur the same weekend, so the parking lot at the Visitor Center fills quickly. Visitors are encouraged to bike, walk or take public transportation to the event. BlueGo and the Nifty Fifty trolley will provide special service for these events. Contact them at (530) 541-7149.
Numerous sponsors and volunteers make this annual event possible. Proceeds from T-shirt sales and the trail runs benefit the U.S. Forest Service environmental education programs in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
For more information and a complete schedule of activities, contact the Taylor Creek Visitor Center at (530) 543-2674 or visit:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/
