Top 10 reasons to host visitors during Salmon Jam

Let us help you entertain your summer guests

Headliner Big Fat Buddha performs during the Copper River Salmon Jam in Cordova on Friday, July 13, 2018. (Photo by Emily Mesner/The Cordova Times)

Looking for an easy time of year to host your visiting friends and family?

Salmon Jam weekend, July 12-13, will keep your guests of all ages entertained and fed. The following are the top 10 reasons you should encourage your visitors to be here this July for Copper River Salmon Jam.

Fish prints hang on a line to dry during Small Fry Activities at the Copper River Salmon Jam in Cordova on Saturday, July 14, 2018. (Photo by Emily Mesner/The Cordova Times)

10: Salmon Jam is fun for the entire family. From free Small Fry educational activities on Saturday afternoon, to face painting, dancing and other fun events during the live music Friday and Saturday night, your young visitors will come back to your house ready for a good night sleep.

Anchorage residents Anne Morrison and Robert Schroeter cross the finish line after completing the Coho 10K in Cordova on Saturday, July 14, 2018. (Photo by Emily Mesner/The Cordova Times)

9: If dancing and games aren’t enough to wear out your visitors, the Alaska Salmon Runs on Saturday morning are sure to help. From a full marathon down to a family one-mile fun run, there’s a distance for all energy levels.

People walk from the main tent to the Snack Shack at the Mt. Eyak Ski Area during the Copper River Salmon Jam in Cordova on Friday, July 13, 2018. (Photo by Emily Mesner/The Cordova Times)

8: Rain or shine, the show will go on. Should it be a rainy weekend, don’t let those guests wear a hole in your couch — send them to Salmon Jam where the rain never shuts us down.

Headliner Big Fat Buddha performs during the Copper River Salmon Jam in Cordova on Friday, July 13, 2018. (Photo by Emily Mesner/The Cordova Times)

7: How do you entertain a group made up of outdoorsmen, beer drinkers, food connoisseurs, music-lovers, artists, shoppers, kids and adults? Take them to Salmon Jam where there’s something for everyone! Delicious homemade food, an artisan market, beer garden, live music, road races, at the base of a ski hill worth hiking … the activities are endless!

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Rebecca Calfina volunteered to serve delectable food and beverages during the Taste of Cordova event at the Copper River Wild! Salmon Festival on Friday night. Photo by Cinthia Gibbens-Stimson/The Cordova Times

6: Are your visitors the kind who must be doing something to help at all times? While that can be awesome for you, you can also get a break and focus your visitors’ energy towards Salmon Jam. Volunteer power is what makes the event happen: from selling tickets, food and t-shirts, to set-up and take-down; we need all hands on deck. All volunteers get discounts at the gate, and the more shifts they work, the greater the discount! Send your volunteers to sign-up online at salmonjam.org/volunteer.

Salmon on the grill during Salmon Jam 2015. Cordova Times file

5: Two days of dinners that you won’t have to make! Your guests can enjoy delicious locally-made soups, pizza and chowdahs at the Snack Shack both nights, and fresh salmon from the grill during the Salmon BBQ on Saturday night.

Kayley Glasen hula hoops outside of the beer garden during the Copper River Salmon Jam on Friday, July 13, 2018. (Photo by Emily Mesner/The Cordova Times)

4: Like to share a few cold brews with your visiting buddies? The best deal in town is at Salmon Jam where cold, refreshing brews from Alaska Brewing Company will be served. Wine and sodas are also available for sale at Salmon Jam.

View from a flight from Cordova to Anchorage in June 2016. (Photo by Annette Potter/The Cordova Times)

3: Alaska Airlines is sponsoring the weekend, including a special discount on flights booked on Alaska Airlines for travel between July 9 and 15, 2019 (use travel code ECMC329 while booking online at alaskaair.com).

Water Matters – Basket of Gratitude and Celebration, is the 37th and latest piece of interactive, impermanent woven art created by Mavis Muller, an artist and naturalist from Homer.   The basket was lit on fire near 11 p.m., on July 15. Photo by Sarah Phillips/For The Cordova Times

2: What better way to share the special flavor of Cordova than having your visitors attend Salmon Jam. From tasting local flavors, enjoying local artists and meeting local characters, your visitors will leave knowing what sustains us here in Cordova: Salmon and Art!

Mahealani Mackenzie hula dances as Keawe Holt performs with his brother during the Copper River Salmon Jam in Cordova on Saturday, July 14, 2018. (Photo by Emily Mesner/The Cordova Times)

1: While your visitors will be entertained for the weekend, you will be entertained year-round! All proceeds from Salmon Jam support Cordova Arts, an all-volunteer organization which coordinates year-round arts and cultural events for Cordova, including special presentations for Cordova K-12 students with all visiting artists.

Track us online at salmonjam.org, or on Facebook, to stay in the loop about special workshops, event updates, volunteer opportunities, and more!

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