Success of 2009 builds growing reputation of Salmon Days Festival

Salmon Days was heralded in the category of events with budgets between $250,000 – $749,000.

September 16, 2010 4:20 pm

The 2009 Issaquah Salmon Days Festival, celebrating “40 Years of Great Returns. Still Fresh. Still Fun. Still Free.,” was presented with the prestigious Silver Grand Pinnacle Award for Best Overall Presentation at the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA) awards ceremony in St. Louis, Mo., on Wednesday. In addition to this top achievement in the IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards competition, Salmon Days received 12 other awards.

Salmon Days was heralded in the category of events with budgets between $250,000 – $749,000.

• Four Gold awards for Best Sponsor Solicitation Program, Best Program, Best Pin or Button, and Best Hat;

• Five Silver awards for Best Single New Sponsorship, Best Single Display Ad, Best Poster, Best Environmental Program, and Best Miscellaneous Clothing was the “If Fishes Were Wishes” T-shirt designed by 7 year old Atesha Banki;

• Three Bronze awards for Best Volunteer Program, Best Overall Merchandise and Best New Merchandise was the Issaquah Jute bag.

The 2009 Salmon Days Campaign was created by graphic designer Robin Dale Spicer, and implemented by Festival staff, local media and vendors.

The IFEA /Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards Competition is a professional competition attracting entries from over 2,000 festivals and event producers worldwide. This prestigious award competition strives for the highest degree of excellence in festival and event promotions. The competition recognizes those in the industry who are continually improving the quality and image of festivals and special events in the eyes of the community and media.

Winning entries come from organizations as diverse as 500 Festival, Indianapolis, Ind, St. Luke’s Women’s Fitness Celebration, Boise, Idaho, Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival, Richardson, Texas, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, Canton, Ohio.

International contenders include the Daegaya Experience Festival, South Korea, Ludwig Van Beethoven Easter Festival, Poland, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Australia, and the Ottawa Bluesfest, Canada.

The 2009 Salmon Days Festival was presented by the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and Ohfishally Spawnsored by Snoqualmie Casino and Overlake Hospital Medical Center.

For more information on the Issaquah Salmon Days Festival, please visit the Festival’s web site at www.salmondays.org or e-mail info@salmondays.org.