Celebrate the return of the Chinook Salmon at the 2026 Oroville Salmon Festival on Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in Historic Downtown Oroville and at the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
This free, family-friendly Oroville tradition brings the community together for a day celebrating the Feather River, the return of the salmon, and everything that makes Oroville special. Explore live entertainment, local food, vendors, family activities, outdoor adventures, and educational experiences throughout the festival.
Start the morning with the colorful 3K Salmon Run, watch the action at the Soap Box Derby, explore the Salmon Festival Motor Mania Car Show, tour the Feather River Fish Hatchery, catch Slammin' at the Salmon Festival, visit the Kids Zone, shop local vendors, enjoy free museum admission, and much more.
With free parking, shuttle bus service, and the Rawhide Express trackless train connecting festival areas, you can park your car and spend the day exploring Oroville!
Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM | Free Admission
Event Schedule – Saturday, September 26, 2026
There's something happening throughout Oroville all day! Explore the 2026 Salmon Festival schedule below and plan your festival adventure.
3K Salmon Run
7:30 AM Check-In | 8:00 AM Start
Riverbend Park, 50 Montgomery St.
Kick off Salmon Festival with the 2nd Annual 3K Salmon Run, hosted by Feather River Elite Gymnastics! The colorful fun run/walk begins at the Riverbend Park Amphitheater and travels along the Feather River to Centennial Park, with participants encountering colorful chalk and slime along the way.
Pre-registration is $35 for adults, $15 for children, or $90 for a family pass of four and includes a shirt and gift. On-site registration is $45; shirt and giveaway availability is not guaranteed for on-site registrants.
Click Here to Register for the 3K Salmon Run
Salmon Festival Motor Mania
7:30–9:00 AM Participant Parking | Prizes at 2:00 PM
Check-In at
Oroville State Theatre, 1489 Myers St.
Hosted by the Oro Dam Cruisers, Salmon Festival Motor Mania brings cars, trucks, motorcycles, classics, customs, hot rods, and more to Historic Downtown Oroville.
Motor Mania is free for spectators. Vehicle and motorcycle participants can enter for $10, with entry fees going toward cash prizes.
Soap Box Derby
Huntoon Street between Arlin Rhine Drive and Montgomery Street
Hosted by Cub Scout Pack 29, the Salmon Festival Soap Box Derby brings gravity-powered racing back to Downtown Oroville!
8:00–9:00 AM – Registration, check-in and technical inspections
9:00–10:00 AM – Cars on display at the finish area
10:00 AM – Salmon Festival Opening Ceremonies & Derby Team Introductions
10:15 AM – Racing begins
Awards – Presented after all brackets are completed
Registration closes Sunday, September 20.
Click Here to Register for the Soap Box Derby
Click Here to View Soap Box Derby Rules
Feather River Fish Hatchery
9:00 AM–12:30 PM & 1:00–3:00 PM
5 Table Mountain Blvd.
Experience one of the traditions at the heart of Salmon Festival! Visit the Feather River Fish Hatchery for free tours, educational booths, food, and an opportunity to view Chinook Salmon making their way through the fish ladder.
Tours and activities are free to attend.
Salmon Tours
9:30 AM & 1:00 PM Departures
Feather River Fish Hatchery, 5 Table Mountain Blvd.
Get out on the Feather River during Salmon Festival! Hosted by the Feather River Center, Salmon Tours put paddlers right in the action as returning Chinook Salmon make their way upstream through the Feather River.
Along the way, participants will learn about the salmon lifecycle, the Feather River, and the important role this annual migration plays in the local ecosystem.
Tours depart from the Historic Green Bridge near the Feather River Fish Hatchery and finish at the Riverbend Park boat ramp. A shuttle will return participants to the launch site immediately following the tour.
Tickets are still available for both the 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM Salmon Festival tours. Space is limited, and advance registration is recommended.
Get Salmon Festival Salmon Tour Tickets
Can't join us during Salmon Festival? Salmon Tours continue on Saturdays throughout October.
Downtown Oroville Farmers Market
9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Kingdom Community Church, 1235 Lincoln St.
Explore food, vendors, and the Saturday Farmers Market in this family-friendly festival area, presented in partnership with Kingdom Community Church, Downtown Oroville Farmers Market, and the Oroville Economic Alliance.
Kids Zone
9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Oroville Convention Center, 1200 Myers St.
Bring the kids for a day of festival fun! Hosted by Feather River Elite Gymnastics and the Oroville Economic Alliance, the Kids Zone features bounce houses, children's activities, food, vendors, and seating in and around the Oroville Convention Center.
Salmon Court
9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Parking Lot A, 1212 Myers St.
Grab something to eat, find a seat, and enjoy live entertainment in Salmon Court, hosted by the Oroville Economic Alliance. The festival hub features a food court, vendors, seating, and a Beer Garden featuring beer from Feather Falls Brewing Company.
Live Entertainment Schedule
10:00 AM – Tyler Duvall
11:15 AM – Strung Nugget Gang
12:30 PM – Those Two Dudes
2:00 PM – Hot Flash
Looking for the salmon? Stop by the Optimist Club of Oroville, who will be serving smoked salmon at the Salmon Court during the festival!
Free Museum Admission
10:00 AM–3:00 PM
Discover more of Oroville while you're here! Enjoy free admission during Salmon Festival at:
- Chinese Temple - 1500 Broderick St.
- Pioneer Museum - 2332 Montgomery St.
- Feather River Nature Center - Old Ferry Rd.
Use the festival map and free transportation to explore the participating locations throughout the day.
Oroville State Theatre Tours & DWR Short Films
9:00 AM–2:30 PM
Oroville State Theatre, 1489 Myers St.
Free Admission
Step inside Oroville's historic State Theatre for free tours and a special series of Department of Water Resources short films playing continuously on an approximately 40-minute loop.
Drop in for one film or stay for the entire loop to learn about the Feather River Fish Hatchery, salmon lifecycle, spawning restoration, watershed projects, fish monitoring, the Feather River Floating Classroom, Oroville Dam Spillway reconstruction, and more.
Slammin' at the Salmon Festival
1:00 PM
In front of the Oroville Convention Center, 1200 Myers St.
Free Admission
Get ready for the 4th Annual Slammin' at the Salmon Festival! Pro Championship Wrestling brings live professional wrestling action to Downtown Oroville with a free outdoor show beginning at 1:00 PM.
Shop & Dine in Historic Downtown Oroville
Throughout the Festival | Historic Downtown Oroville
Make exploring Downtown part of your Salmon Festival day! Between festival activities, take time to discover Historic Downtown Oroville's locally owned shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafés, and other businesses located throughout and around the festival footprint.
Hungry for salmon? In addition to smoked salmon from the Optimist Club of Oroville at the Salmon Court, participating Downtown restaurants will be getting into the Salmon Festival spirit with special salmon dishes of their own.
Whether you're searching for salmon, grabbing lunch, enjoying a sweet treat, shopping for something unique, or taking a break between attractions, supporting Downtown businesses is a great way to experience even more of Oroville while you're here.
Make It a Salmon Festival Week
Feather River Clean Up
Sunday, September 20 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Riverbend Park, 50 Montgomery St.
Help get the Feather River ready for Salmon Festival! The Feather River Recreation & Park District invites volunteers to help clean and beautify the riverfront, trails, parks, and public spaces used throughout Salmon Festival and year-round.
Tools are provided, and volunteers receive a free lunch.
Click Here to Register for the Feather River Clean Up
Eagles Community Mixer
Thursday, September 24 | 5:30 PM
Eagles Hall, 2010 Montgomery St.
Kick off Salmon Festival weekend with the 1st Annual Eagles Community Mixer, hosted by Eagles Aerie #196. Come together with the Oroville community for an evening of connection, hosted appetizers, and community spirit.
Click Here to RSVP for the Eagles Community Mixer
Make a Night of It in Downtown Oroville
Friday, September 25 | Historic Downtown Oroville
Start Salmon Festival weekend a day early! Spend Friday afternoon and evening exploring the locally owned shops and businesses of Historic Downtown Oroville, then grab dinner or drinks before heading to the Oroville State Theatre for the Season 42 Birdie Awards.
And since it wouldn't be Salmon Festival weekend without salmon, keep an eye out for special salmon dishes being served by participating Downtown Oroville restaurants!
Season 42 Birdie Awards
6:00 PM | Oroville State Theatre, 1489 Myers St. | Free Admission
Celebrate local actors, directors, crew members, and productions at the Birdcage Theatre Season 42 Birdie Awards. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
2026 Salmon Festival Map
With activities stretching from Riverbend Park through Historic Downtown Oroville and across the Feather River to the Feather River Fish Hatchery, there's plenty to explore!
Use the official 2026 Salmon Festival Map to find attractions, designated free parking areas, shuttle bus and Rawhide Express stops, restrooms, transportation routes, and street closures.
Getting Here & Parking
Driving to Oroville
The Salmon Festival takes place throughout Historic Downtown Oroville and at the Feather River Fish Hatchery. Most visitors arriving by car will use Highway 70 to reach Oroville.
From the north (Chico/Paradise), take the Montgomery Street exit and follow signs toward Downtown Oroville.
From the south (Marysville/Yuba City), take the Montgomery Street/Highway 162 exit toward Oroville.
From the west (Highway 162/Highway 99), follow Highway 162 east into Oroville.
Several Downtown streets will be closed to vehicle traffic during Salmon Festival. Check the 2026 Festival Map for street closures and allow additional time when arriving.
Free Festival Parking
Two designated festival parking areas are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis:
- Riverbend Park – 50 Montgomery St.
- Butte County Department of Employment & Social Services – 78 Table Mountain Blvd.
Visitors may also use legal public parking on Downtown Oroville streets outside the festival street-closure area.
Free Shuttle Bus
8:30 AM–3:30 PM
Free shuttle buses provided by the Thermalito Elementary School District will operate continuously between designated stops connecting the festival parking areas, Historic Downtown Oroville, and the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
Refer to the 2026 Festival Map for all shuttle stops and the official bus route.
This is one place where I'd stop listing every bus stop in text. The new map communicates the route much better, and it avoids someone using an outdated text list if a stop has to move.
Free Rawhide Express
8:30 AM–3:30 PM
All aboard the Rawhide Express! The free, handicap-accessible trackless train provides a fun and convenient way to travel between attractions throughout the Downtown festival footprint.
The Rawhide Express operates continuously during the festival. Check the
2026 Festival Map for trackless train stops and its Downtown route.
Plan Your 2026 Salmon Festival Experience
Make a day — or a weekend — of your Salmon Festival visit. While you're in Oroville celebrating the return of the Chinook Salmon, take time to explore Historic Downtown Oroville, enjoy locally owned restaurants and cafés, and discover comfortable places to stay. With Salmon Festival activities happening throughout the week and the main celebration stretching from Downtown to the Feather River Fish Hatchery, there's plenty to experience before, during, and after the festival.
Lodging Guide
Stay Local & Support Businesses
Browse the
Oroville Chamber Business Directory to discover local lodging options and other businesses that make Oroville special.
Stay and Shop in the Heart of Downtown
Looking for a stay just steps away from the festivities? Explore
Downtown Oroville Places for lodging and other local favorites, including unique historic stays right in the district.
Explore the Region
For a full list of accommodations across Butte County—including hotels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds—visit
Explore Butte County’s Stay Guide.
Dining Guide
Support Local Businesses
Browse the
Oroville Chamber Business Directory to find Chamber-member restaurants, cafés, and food services.
Eat in the Heart of Downtown
Many
Downtown Oroville restaurants are located
within or just steps from the Salmon Festival footprint. Explore everything from casual bites to locally owned favorites while enjoying your day in Historic Downtown Oroville.
Explore the Region
If you’re exploring more of the region,
Explore Butte County’s Taste Guide features dining options throughout the county, including breweries, wineries, and farm-to-table favorites.
Registration & Vendor Information
Some Salmon Festival activities require advance registration, while the festival itself and most attractions are free to attend. Find registration information for participating activities and vendor opportunities below.
3K Salmon Run
Pre-registration is $35 for adults, $15 for children, or $90 for a family pass of four. On-site registration is $45.
Click Here to Register for the 3K Salmon Run
Soap Box Derby
Registration for the Soap Box Derby closes Sunday, September 20.
Click Here to Register for the Soap Box Derby
Click Here to View Soap Box Derby Rules
Salmon Tours
Tickets are available for Salmon Festival Salmon Tours departing at 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 26. Space is limited, so advance registration is recommended.
Additional Salmon Tours are offered on Saturdays throughout October.
2026 Vendor Applications – Waitlist Only
Vendor spaces in Salmon Court/Parking Lot A, the Upper Convention Center Parking Lot, and the Kingdom Community Church Parking Lot are currently SOLD OUT.
Food Vendors: Food vendors interested in participating may still complete the Food Vendor Application to be added to the 2026 Salmon Festival food vendor waitlist.
Non-Food Vendors: Non-food vendor spaces are also sold out. To be added to the non-food vendor waitlist, email Amber Miland, Director of Communications, at amarron@orovillechamber.com with your name, business name, and contact phone number.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When and where is the 2026 Salmon Festival?
The 2026 Oroville Salmon Festival takes place on Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM throughout Historic Downtown Oroville and at the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
Some activities begin earlier, including the 3K Salmon Run at 8:00 AM. Check the Event Schedule above for individual activity times and locations.
Is the Salmon Festival free to attend?
Yes! Admission to the Oroville Salmon Festival is free, including many of the day's attractions, entertainment, museum admission, Feather River Fish Hatchery tours, DWR short films, and Slammin' at the Salmon Festival.
Some activities require separate registration or fees, including the 3K Salmon Run and participation in Motor Mania. The Salmon Festival Salmon Tours require advance tickets and are sold out for September 26.
Where can I get salmon at the Salmon Festival?
You found the salmon! 🐟 The Optimist Club of Oroville will be serving smoked salmon at the Salmon Court at the Parking Lot A, 1212 Myers St.
You can also explore Historic Downtown Oroville, where participating restaurants will be celebrating Salmon Festival weekend with special salmon dishes. Availability and individual restaurant offerings may vary.
Where can I park?
Two designated festival parking areas are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis:
Riverbend Park – 50 Montgomery St.
Butte County Department of Employment & Social Services – 78 Table Mountain Blvd.
Visitors may also use legal public parking along Downtown Oroville streets outside the festival street-closure area.
How do I get between Downtown Oroville and the Feather River Fish Hatchery?
Take advantage of the festival's free shuttle bus service, which connects designated parking areas, Historic Downtown Oroville, and the Feather River Fish Hatchery.
Within the Downtown festival area, visitors can also ride the free Rawhide Express trackless train between designated stops.
Check the 2026 Festival Map for routes and stop locations.
What time do the shuttle buses and Rawhide Express run?
Both the free shuttle buses and Rawhide Express operate continuously from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM on Saturday, September 26.
The Rawhide Express is handicap accessible.
Is the festival accessible?
The festival takes place across multiple outdoor locations and Downtown streets. ADA-accessible portable restrooms will be available, and the Rawhide Express trackless train is handicap accessible.
Please note that there is no designated festival ADA parking area. Designated festival parking and legal public parking are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where can I find restrooms and handwashing stations?
Portable restrooms, including ADA-accessible units, and handwashing stations will be located throughout the festival footprint.
Check the 2026 Festival Map for restroom locations.
Will there be an ATM at the festival?
There will not be a designated festival ATM this year. Visitors who plan to shop with vendors or purchase food and beverages are encouraged to come prepared with their preferred payment methods.
Can I bring my pet?
Pets are not prohibited; however, Salmon Festival can be busy, crowded, and noisy. Visitors are encouraged to consider whether the festival environment is appropriate for their pets before bringing them.
Service animals are welcome.
Can I bring outside alcohol?
No. Outside alcohol is not permitted within festival areas. Beer will be available for purchase by guests age 21 and older in the Salmon Court Beer Garden. Alcohol will be available at restaurants that serve alchol, but must remain in the restaurant.
Glass containers, weapons, and other unsafe or prohibited items are also not permitted within festival areas.
Will streets be closed in Downtown Oroville?
Yes. Several streets within the Downtown festival footprint will be closed to vehicle traffic during Salmon Festival.
The 2026 Festival Map shows the festival street closures, transportation routes, and parking areas. Visitors should allow a little extra time when arriving Downtown.
What should I do is I lose something?
For lost or found items during the festival, speak with an Oroville Police Department representative or visit the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce booth in Salmon Court.
Will police and public safety personnel be at the festival?
Yes. The Oroville Police Department will be present throughout Salmon Festival to support public safety.
Where can I see salmon at the Feather River Fish Hatchery?
The Feather River Fish Hatchery will offer free tours from 9:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–3:00 PM during Salmon Festival, along with educational booths and fish ladder viewing.
Who can I contact with additional Salmon Festival questions?
For additional information about the 2026 Oroville Salmon Festival, contact the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce at (530) 538-2542 or visit the Chamber booth in Salmon Court during the festival.
Thank You 2026 Salmon Festival Sponsors!
The Oroville Salmon Festival is made possible through the generous support of businesses, organizations, and community partners who help us celebrate the Feather River, the return of the salmon, and the Oroville community.
Want to be part of the 2026 Salmon Festival? Sponsorship opportunities are still available! Support this beloved Oroville tradition while showcasing your organization to festivalgoers from throughout the region.
Salmon Run Presenting Sponsor
River Guardian Sponsors
Chinook Champion Sponsors
California Water Service
Recology Butte Colusa Counties
Gold Country Casino Resort
Festival Supporter
Explore Butte County
2026 Salmon Festival Events Committee & Community Partners
The Oroville Salmon Festival is a community-wide celebration made possible through the collaboration of local organizations, agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and volunteers working together throughout the year.
Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce - Feather River Fish Hatchery - Feather River Recreation & Park District - Feather River Elite Gymnastics - Oroville Optimist Club - Oro Dam Cruisers - Department of Water Resources - Forebay Aquatic Center - Exchange Club of Oroville - Jordan Crossing Ministries - Northwest Lineman College - City of Oroville - City of Oroville Docents - Downtown Oroville Business Association - Oroville State Theatre - Birdcage Theatre - Eagles Aerie FOE 196 - Feather Falls Casino Resort - Gold Country Casino Resort - Enterprise Rancheria - Mooretown Rancheria - Explore Butte County - Recology Butte Colusa Counties - Oroville Police Department