Salmon Homecoming at Oxbow Park

Photo courtesy of Oregon Metro

Enjoy two days of fun, food and cultural connection at the Salmon Homecoming at Oxbow Park.

Indigenous educators, artists and culture keepers join Metro to celebrate one of the Pacific Northwest’s keystone species as it returns to the Sandy River. Oxbow Park is known as one of the best places to see salmon spawning near Portland.

Here are the activities at this upcoming event.

The Salmon Homecoming is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, and Sunday, October 20, at Oxbow Park in Gresham.

The primary focus of Salmon Homecoming is to pay tribute to the incredible salmon, an icon deeply ingrained in the culture of local Native American communities. This is a free, family-friendly event.

Activities

Salmon Homecoming promises a rich array of activities. Attendees can look forward to:

Vendors: Portland Indigenous Marketplace has coordinated more than 20 vendors selling Indigenous arts, crafts, and goods, showcasing the talents and creativity of the community. Be sure to bring cash! There is no cell service so vendors cannot take digital payment.
Plant Walks: Discover the natural beauty of Oxbow Park with guided plant walks, connecting participants to the land and its botanical treasures.
Native Games: Engage in friendly competition with traditional Native games, fostering camaraderie and connection.
Art Activities: Unleash your creative spirit with art activities that draw inspiration from Indigenous art forms and storytelling.
Cultural Crafts: Immerse yourself in the hands-on experience, deepening your appreciation for the skills of Indigenous artisans.
Drumming: Feel the rhythmic heartbeat of Indigenous culture through drumming performances that resonate with the soul.
Storytelling: Listen to captivating stories that carry the wisdom, history and traditions of Native communities.

Schedule of Events

Here’s an overview of when and where you can participate in these free activities each day of the event:

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food, Indigenous marketplace vendors, tabling organizations, games, crafts and salmon samples.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Salmon viewing at Coho shelter.

11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Drumming at Alder shelter.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cultural dancing.

12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Storytelling at Alder shelter.

1 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. Plant walks at Alder shelter (Sunday only).

2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Storytelling at Alder shelter (Saturday only).

Need help navigating the park? View Oxbow Park’s salmon homecoming guide.

This community event is free to attend. Parking at Oxbow is $5. Keep in mind, you can park at Oxbow for free during free parking days at Portland Metro parks.

Oxbow Regional Park is at 3010 SE Oxbow Parkway in Gresham. For more information, visit Oregon Metro’s website.

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