STRAWBERRY RESERVOIR — The public is invited to view thousands of fluorescent orange kokanee salmon and celebrate the abundant wildlife of the Strawberry Valley from Sept. 12 – 14 at the Third Annual Strawberry Valley Wildlife Festival.

Activities will be held at the Daniel Summit Lodge (located east of Heber City along Highway 40) and at the Strawberry Reservoir Visitor Center (salmon viewing will take place here). Bring the family and enjoy the gorgeous fall colors, view the kokanee salmon along the Strawberry River boardwalk, listen to presentations by wildlife experts, view or even purchase wildlife art and crafts, visit many booths and displays, go on nature hikes, enjoy Kayla's Crawdad Cuisine or Daniel's Summit Barbecue, listen to live country western music (Friday and Saturday evenings), and participate in many other activities, all of which are free of charge.

"The goal of the family-oriented festival is to not only celebrate the wildlife of the area, but to promote ecosystem health and teach appropriate resource uses in the Strawberry Valley," said Scott Root, regional conservation outreach manager for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

Many booths will promote conservation, safety and responsibility. Booths include Tracy Aviary (bird demonstrations), mountain biking and snowmobiling safety tips, fly tying and fly casting demonstrations, wildlife art and crafts, free bird feeders and bird houses, Olympic biathlon portable shooting range, and conservation displays from the DWR, the U.S. Forest Service (fire safety), the Utah Division of Water Resources and several other organizations.

Free kokanee salmon posters and many other items will be available from some of the vendors. The "Friends of Strawberry Valley " organization will hold a raffle to raise money for conservation projects in the valley. Some of the prizes that have been donated include overnight stays at the Daniels Summit Lodge, Inn on the Creek and the Blue Boar Inn; a guided fishing trip on Strawberry Reservoir; a Sage fly rod; a fleece fishing vest; gift certificates; and many others.

Click here for a full schedule of activities

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