In almost every town, community-building starts with its nearest chamber of commerce.  The Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, our local chamber deserves a spotlight for its many efforts. Nowhere is this better illustrated than its annual Salmon Days festival Oct. 5 and 6, uniting local businesses, families and neighbors. Juniper Capital tips our hat to the Chamber for 50 years of Salmon Days!

This event celebrates one of the area’s treasured natural phenomena: the annual return of the salmon in the town’s waterways and hatchery—approximately two tons per year! Early Salmon Days celebrations started with a Kiwanis Salmon BBQ, salmon hatchery displays, an art show, children’s parade led by the late J.P. Patches and more. In 1980 Salmon Days’ festival and Grande Parade became a Seafair-sanctioned community event–giving it more visibility, and soon gear sales, “spawnsorships” and a paid director followed. Today, more than 150,000 visitors celebrate this beloved weekend. Check out the Saturday Grande Parade of more than 100 entries, enjoy free family-friendly games and activities at Veterans Memorial Field “Field of Fun” and more than 270 on-site artists selling their creations over the weekend. All the details are here.

All year round, the Issaquah Chamber makes Eastside life easier by connecting people to local businesses and opportunities. Not only does it foster networking among local businesses, it unites with four other Eastside chambers with a “Fab 5” monthly networking breakfast, displays local job postings from its members on its website, provides resources for new residents getting established, and amplifies the promotion of new member businesses to the greater community.

Whether or not you live near Issaquah, don’t miss a chance to explore this vibrant community through the efforts of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce during Salmon Days. You’ll enjoy it!