Oroville Salmon Festival: When It Is and What to Expect

Water And Ice Safety: read this before you go

The Oroville Salmon Festival celebrates the Chinook salmon returning up the Feather River each fall. The streets between Historic Downtown Oroville and the Feather River Fish Hatchery fill with music, food, craft booths and hatchery tours, and the City of Oroville calls it a free event. The 2027 date is not posted yet. 2027 dates not yet posted

Original artwork of salmon swimming upstream with families watching

Save To Pinterest

At a Glance

When: September each year; the City says “always the last Saturday in September”, CDFW says the 4th Saturday of September
2027 date: Not posted yet
Where: Between Historic Downtown Oroville and the Feather River Fish Hatchery, 5 Table Mountain Boulevard
Price: Free festival (City of Oroville); the Friday dinner needs an advance ticket
Contact: Oroville Chamber of Commerce, 530-538-2542

What The City Describes

A sit-down outdoor dinner above the Feather River opens the weekend on Friday evening, with grilled salmon or tri-tip and live music; the City says advance tickets are a must. On Saturday the festival brings environmental education, music, salmon tasting, tours of the hatchery, craft booths, live entertainment, a wine and beer garden and food.

Two Official Pages, Two Ways to Say The Date

The City of Oroville’s events page says the festival is always the last Saturday in September. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s hatchery page says the 4th Saturday of September. In most years those are the same day, and in 2027 both rules point to Saturday, September 25. Neither page has posted a 2027 date, so treat that as a guess until the organizer confirms it.

See The Salmon Without The Crowds

CDFW says salmon spawning can be watched at the hatchery Monday to Friday from mid-September to mid-November, and the underwater viewing windows show fish from about mid-September through June. The hatchery is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Plan it with our salmon viewing answer or the November guide.

Oroville on This Site

Oroville & Lake Oroville Feather River Fish Hatchery Downtown Oroville Feather River Guide Lake Oroville Weekend

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Oroville Salmon Festival?

In late September. The City of Oroville says the last Saturday in September; CDFW says the 4th Saturday. The 2027 date is not posted yet.

Is the Salmon Festival free?

The City of Oroville calls it a free event. The Friday evening dinner needs an advance ticket.

When can I watch salmon spawn at the hatchery?

Monday to Friday from mid-September to mid-November, CDFW says. The hatchery is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More Events

All Chico Events Events by Month November December January Submit an Event

Sources

City of Oroville, Community Events (festival description, last Saturday in September, free). Read October 29, 2026.
CDFW, Feather River Fish Hatchery (4th Saturday of September, spawning viewing, hours). Read October 29, 2026.

Cite this page: “Oroville Salmon Festival.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/events/oroville-salmon-festival/

Add to Your Calendar

Subscribe once and new Oroville & Lake Oroville events appear in Apple, Google or Outlook Calendar. Feed times follow the organizer pages; check the organizer before you go. The same rows are free to reuse on our open data page.

Oroville & Lake Oroville Calendar Feed All Events Feed

Coming Up Nearby

Dated events in Oroville & Lake Oroville, soonest first.

A Night of Southern Gospel Music Nov 10
Oroville Veterans' Day Parade Nov 11
SOAAHS Fundraiser Nov 14
Junk Journal Club: Practical Magic Nov 15

Places Nearby

Straight-line distances from the event's home venue, about, not drive times.

Oroville State Theatre Theater about 0 miles
Downtown Oroville and the Riverfront Downtown about 1 miles
Oroville Chinese Temple Museum about 1 miles
Oroville Dam Overlooks and Visitor Center Overlook about 5 miles

On The Map

2 places named on this page are pinned. Tap a pin for the page and directions. Dashed pins were placed from the street address and are approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Safety Notice

Water And Ice Safety: Read This Before You Go

Lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, beaches and ice can kill, quickly and without warning. Conditions change by the hour and we cannot see them from here. This page is general information only. It is not a safety assessment, and it does not say or promise that any place, water, ice or activity is safe.

We do not inspect, test, measure or monitor water, ice, currents, depth, water quality, algae, wildlife, access, closures or lifeguard staffing at any place we list.
Posted signs, closures, advisories, flags and the directions of rangers, lifeguards and the land owner or managing agency always override anything here. A place being listed does not mean it is open, legal to enter, or permitted for swimming, wading, boating or fishing, and does not give you permission to be on private land or private water.
Children and weak swimmers: the CDC says to assign a responsible adult to watch children closely and constantly in or near water, with no phone, reading, alcohol or drugs, and to use life jackets for children in and around natural water. It also says inflatable or foam toys are not safety devices.
Open water hides hazards. The CDC names currents, waves, rocks, vegetation and poor visibility. As general guidance (not from a named source), also expect sudden drop-offs, very cold water even on a warm day, submerged objects, boat traffic and changing weather. Never swim alone, and never mix alcohol with water or boats.

Emergency in the United States: call 911. Learn CPR, as the CDC recommends.

Not ConfirmedWe have not verified current water or ice conditions, water quality, access, swimming or boating permission, lifeguard hours, fees, rules or closures for any place on this page. The land owner or managing agency (a park, city, county, state or federal office, or the property owner) is the one who can confirm them. Ask them before you go.

Sources read on 8 November 2026: the Minnesota DNR ice thickness guidelines (dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html, no page date shown) and the CDC drowning prevention page (cdc.gov/drowning/prevention, page dated 29 September 2025). Guidance can change and can differ by state and by place: check the current text and your local agency before relying on it. This notice is general guidance only. It is not legal, medical, rescue or professional safety advice, and nobody on this site is a lifeguard or safety professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for any children and pets with you, and you use this information at your own risk. Water, ice, weather and local rules change quickly and differ by state, county and property. To the fullest extent the law allows, this site, its owner and its contributors are not responsible for any injury, death, loss or damage that results from using this information or from visiting any place, water or ice mentioned here. If you do not accept that, do not rely on this page (see the Limits Of Liability in our Terms Of Use).

Print / Save As PDF