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Description
- When: Sunday, September 13, 2026 (second Sunday in September)
- Where: Ambleside Park, West Vancouver, BC
- Cost: Coho Salmon Barbecue plate purchased separately; check event page for pricing
- Hosted by: Coho Salmon Society
Held every year on the second Sunday in September, the Coho Festival celebrates the return of BC's Coho salmon with a full day at Ambleside Park built around food, environmental education, and live music. The day starts with the Coho Swim and a pancake breakfast, and continues through the festival's signature Coho Salmon Barbecue, the Coho Garden, a Stewardship Zone, the Coho Kids Park, and a Main Stage lineup, alongside a welcome from the Squamish Nation.
What to Expect
Coho Salmon Barbecue
A cornerstone of the festival since it began in 1979, the barbecue typically features wild, local, and/or sustainably harvested Coho salmon, served with BC corn on the cob and locally grown salad. Plates and utensils are recycled or recyclable materials.
The Coho Garden
Local craft beers, ciders, and premium wines are available in the Coho Garden, where guests can grab a salmon dinner and a drink while enjoying waterfront views and live music from the Main Stage.
Stewardship Zone
More than 20 exhibitors involved in rejuvenating and maintaining local streams, rivers, oceans, parks, and forests set up here, offering guests of all ages a chance to learn about environmental stewardship.
Coho Kids Park
Activities centred on education, art, culture, and the outdoors, including a climbing wall for kids of all ages.
Squamish Nation Village
The Squamish Nation welcomes all attendees to Swá7 wi (Ambleside Park), with the Squamish Nation Canoe Family performing the traditional Blessing of the Salmon ceremony on the Main Stage at approximately 1:00 PM.
Coho Swim & Pancake Breakfast
The day kicks off with the Coho Swim and a pancake breakfast ahead of the main festival activities.
A Zero Waste Event
The Coho Festival has been a Zero Waste event since 2013, using only organic, compostable, and recyclable materials on site. With support from WCS Recycling, the festival has sent over 5,000 pounds of organic and compostable material to be composted and 600 pounds of recyclables to be recycled each year, achieving a 99% diversion rate.
Why Salmon at a Salmon Festival?
Proceeds from the festival go toward helping North Shore stewardship groups rebuild, repair, and maintain wild salmon habitats. Salmon are a foundational part of the region's ecosystem — feeding whales, orcas, bears, and eagles, and even fertilizing the coastal forests through decaying salmon in rivers, streams, and creeks. The festival's ongoing focus is education on protecting fish and their environment, with the barbecue itself supporting that same mission.
Plan Your Visit
- Event: Coho Festival
- Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
- Time: See event schedule for full daily timing
- Location: Ambleside Park, West Vancouver, BC
- Admission: Check event page for barbecue and activity pricing
- Website: cohosalmonsociety.com
Now a longstanding North Shore tradition, the Coho Festival combines a salmon barbecue, live music, and hands-on environmental education into one waterfront day at Ambleside Park — all in support of keeping wild salmon populations strong for generations to come.