Coho Festival

The 2025 season has ended – new shows will be listed here starting June 2026.

The Coho Festival, held annually on the second Sunday in September at Ambleside Park, is a community celebration centred on the return of salmon and the stewardship of local waters. The day begins with a Coho Swim and pancake breakfast, followed by a full lineup of family-friendly activities including the famous Coho Salmon Barbecue, the Coho Garden featuring local craft beverages, live music on the main stage, a kids park with cultural and outdoor activities, and the Squamish Nation Village. A highlight each year is the Squamish Nation Canoe Family’s traditional Blessing of the Salmon ceremony.

Since its founding in 1979, the festival has focused on both community and conservation. Visitors enjoy wild, sustainably harvested salmon meals served with recyclable or compostable materials, while more than 20 environmental exhibitors in the Stewardship Zone share ways to protect and restore local ecosystems. The festival became a zero-waste event in 2013, diverting 99% of its materials from landfill, and now serves primarily as a fundraiser for North Shore stewardship groups. At its heart, the Coho Festival is both a celebration of salmon and a call to action for protecting our shared environment.