“It’s truly a community event,” said Dale Ann Sherman, an organizer of the Yurok Tribe’s annual festival.

The original event was a  break for loggers and fishermen in the summertime.

“The men looked forward to three days off in the summer,” she said, “getting together and relaxing, being with family and friends.”

“That revival of community spirit,” Sherman continued, “that’s what we’re working toward.”

Granted, the Salmon Festival is much smaller compared to what it used to be, she said.

The tribe is continuing with some of the new things tried at last year’s event that were successful, such as a 5-kilometer run and heavy equipment rodeo. 

The free event is moving from Sunday to Saturday this year, Sherman explained, so those who are traveling from out of the area will have time to get back home for work on Monday.

It’s also the same day as Smith River Days, which was a coincidence.

Sherman thinks the Salmon Festival will be well-attended this year because people from the Fresno and Sacramento areas and as far away as Nebraska are planning to come. 

The tribe has also been advertising the festival in Redding, encouraging people to get out of the heat and “cool off for a day,” she said. The hope is that out-of-towners will make it an annual trip, Sherman said.

The theme for the festival this year is “Celebrating Harmony: Song of the Salmon.” 

The Yurok Tribe has a ceremonial dance for the balance and harmony of the world, Sherman said.

The theme is a “gesture toward our ceremony and prayers for harmony,” she said.

“Song of the Salmon” refers to songs that Yurok men sing for the salmon, Sherman explained.

“When the salmon are running, we all feel joy and harmony,” she said. “Our hearts are filled with song.”

The Salmon Festival is not just for Yuroks, though, Sherman said, “we want all people and communities to feel welcome.”

The day will kick off with the start of the 5-kilometer Ney’ Puey (“salmon run” in Yurok)  — which is free to enter — at 8 a.m. at the basketball courts on Klamath Boulevard. The first 30 finishers will get T-shirts, with trophies awarded for first, second third places.

For those not running, there’s the veteran’s breakfast, sponsored by the Klamath Chamber of Commerce, at 8 a.m. at the Klamath Community Center on Salmon Boulevard.

Plates filled with salmon, fresh fruit, potato salad, bean dish and dessert will be served starting at 11:30 a.m. There will also be other food for sale Saturday.

Then there’s the well-known stick games, a full-contact sport that’s something of a cross between lacrosse and wrestling.

“It’s played pretty roughly,” Sherman said.

Eight teams will be playing card games that Yuroks have been playing for thousands of years. 

In the heavy equipment rodeo, participants will try to complete a set of timed challenges on loaders and skid steers.

The tribe has expanded its cultural demonstrations to include a Yurok dress show, gill net making carving and basket making.

Boys and girls will be selling raffle tickets to win the Young Warriors and Pretty Girl contests. The winners will be crowned Saturday. They’ll win cultural items to be used in Yurok ceremonies, Sherman said.

Prizes being raffled off include two airline tickets to anywhere in the United States, she said.

About 75 vendors have signed up to sell their goods, including  Native American artwork, Western-themed items, blankets, leather shoes, Sherman said.

A classic car show put on by tribal member George Smoker, his wife Marla and Gene Davenport will be back this year, as is the Black Horse Blues Band.

New this year is a softball tournament, Sherman said.

Children can play in the bounce house or other activities or watch clowns,  magicians, jugglers and balloon makers perform.

“We’ve been working hard to make it a family event,” Sherman said.

Roger McCovey, a two-time state wrestling champion for Del Norte, takes down an opponent during last year’s stick games. (The Daily Triplicate/Bryant Anderson)