Salmonfest Comes to Kenai Peninsula Aug. 2–4

Salmonfest 2019, a three-day music festival in celebration of and rallying cry for protecting wild salmon and their habitat, will open on Aug. 2 at Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Fairgrounds.

Headliners among over 60 bans on four stages are Grammy award winders Ani DiFranco and Jason Mraz. Perennial favorite Ray Troll and the Ratfish Wranglers, from Ketchikan, Alaska, will be back, as well as Seward’s Blackwater Railroad Company and the California Honeydrops, from Oakland, Calif.

Along with the music, attendees will enjoy a salmon parade and a smoked salmon superbowl competition, as well as food and crafts booths. The festival’s Salmon Causeway will feature educational booths, a science symposium and daily children’s programming.

The annual festival, which draws thousands of people, began in 2011 as Salmonstock, and quickly became a force in advocating for protecting salmon habitat and a voice in opposition to the proposed Pebble mine. Long-time supporters include the Kachemak Bay Conservation Society and Cook Inletkeeper, both of Homer.

Festival producer Jim Stearns says tickets are going fast for the family-friendly event, particularly for Aug. 3.

Information on ticket purchases, performers, volunteering, campground reservations and more is available at salmonfestalaska.org.