Issaquah Salmon Days Wins Gold at Festival Association Conference

Issaquah's Salmon Days won seven Summit Awards at the Washington Festival and Events Associations annual conference in Blaine, WA on Tuesday, March 27.

The 2011 Salmon Days campaign, presented by the  and "Ohfishally Spawnsored" by Virginia Mason Medical Center themed “Wild Things!,” received three first place Gold Summit Awards, two second place Silver Summit  Awards and two third place Bronze Summit Awards within its budget category of $150,000 and over. It takes the help of more than 500 volunteers to put on the annual fall festival that marks the salmon run.

The festival received GOLD for the prestigious Best Overall Promotional Campaign, Best Community/Partnership Program and Best T-shirt, along with two silver awards for Best Website and Best Souvenir Pin and two Bronze awards for Best Promotional Poster and Best Other Merchandise for the  special tile and coasters.

This isn't the first time Salmon Days has earned a feather in its gills. In 2011, the festival won eleven top awards from the International Festival & Events Association; Gold: Best Cover Design, Best Single Magazine Display Ad, Best Single Page Print, Best Event Pin, Best Hat and Best Misc. Clothing; Silver: Best Event Invitation, Best Overall Sponsorship Program, Best New Merchandise; and Bronze: Best Sponsor Solicitation Package.

The organization revealed this year's logo last week for the upcoming event, themed "Thrills and Gills," and currently is accepting applications for vendors for the 2012 event. Since applications are online this year, vendors have until May 1 to submit their information. The applications can be accessed online at the Salmon Days website. Salmon Days will be held Oct. 6-7 this year.