Cordova Music Fest, Running, and Kids Activities Celebrating Salmon and Art
Cordova, Alaska (PRWEB) June 08, 2015 -- At the peak of the Copper River’s famous salmon migrations, the fish-forward community of Cordova invites you to gather and celebrate the two things that sustain them year-round: Salmon and Art! The thirteenth annual Copper River WILD! Salmon Festival will take place July 17 & 18, toasting Cordova’s famous Copper River salmon in food, music, running events, and education for kids and families. During the day, enjoy family fun at the Small Fry Kids Activities and Marathon to 1-mile running events. In the evenings, indulge in some delicious Copper River Salmon and live music at Salmon Jam Music Festival. Music proceeds benefit the Cordova Arts Council and support year-round cultural activities in Cordova.
Friday kicks off the weekend with the Taste of Cordova at Mt. Eyak Ski Area. Join food writers and chefs from all over the country for a chance to feast on some of Cordova’s best wild fare. Anyone can enter or sample dishes in this Copper River salmon and wild food cook-off featuring a variety of creative and delicious dishes. Winning entries from past years include saffron shitake risotto salmon swirls, wild berry trifle, and black licorice glazed sockeye. Enjoy an acoustic set by Alaskan singer/songwriter Andy King while you try some dishes inspired by Cordova’s bounty!
Friday and Saturday nights belong to Salmon Jam music festival, featuring a beer garden stocked with some of Ninkasi Brewing’s best pints and a diverse array of varietal wines. The Builders and the Butchers from Portland, OR and award winning Rocky Mountain bluegrass band, The Railsplitters headline this year’s event along with Tyson James from Nashville, Aloha Bluegrass Band from sunny Hawaii, and plenty of local and regional acts. Salmon Jam is a great opportunity to spot burgeoning talent as local and visiting musicians start off the evening, comprising a total of over 5 hours of live music each night!
Saturday’s Alaska Salmon Runs road race event marks their 29th anniversary this year! Distance events include a King Salmon Marathon, Sockeye Half-Marathon, Coho 10K, Smolt 5K, and a one mile fun run/walk. Runners from all over the US and abroad travel to this destination race to take in the fantastic scenery along the Copper River delta course – mile after mile of mountains, glaciers, blue water lakes and wildlife. Massage tables await you after the race and a wild salmon barbecue at the end of the day celebrates the achievements of all walkers and runners.
Kids and families can explore salmon together on Saturday afternoon at the Small Fry Arts and Education activities. Prince William Sound Science Center education staff will help kids create beautiful fish prints to take home while other organizations host fun, educational activities for the whole family. You’ll also be entertained as processors send their fastest hands to demonstrate speed filleting techniques and local artisans sell their wares at the Arts & Crafts Faire.
Most Copper River WILD! Salmon Festival events are held at Mt. Eyak Ski Area, with views of Orca Inlet and Cordova’s working fishing harbor. A free shuttle runs throughout the weekend to help guests to and from festival grounds. Alaska Salmon Runs commence from the Cordova Community Medical Center parking lot Saturday morning.
Cordova’s daily air service provided by Alaska Airlines and Ravn Air and ferry service on the Alaska Marine Highway make it easy to join in the fun. For more travel info, visit http://www.copperriverwild.org/getting-here, and for more visitor information, check out the Cordova Chamber of Commerce.
Free event Press Passes are available! Contact Cathy at marketing(at)cdvarts(dot)org.
Event partners include Cordova Arts Council, Copper River Watershed Project, Mt. Eyak Ski Area, PWS Science Center, Copper River/PWS Marketing Association, the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, Alaska Department of Fish & Game, Cordova District Fishermen United, the Native Village of Eyak, and the Chugach National Forest/Cordova Ranger District.
Cathy Long, Cordova Arts Council & Copper River Wild! Salmon Festival, http://www.copperriverwild.org, +1 907 429 1008, [email protected]
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