Port Alberni Salmon Festival

The Port Alberni Salmon Festival is a Labour Day long-weekend tradition at the head of the Alberni Inlet, celebrating the salmon heritage that runs deep in this working valley town. Centred on the Harbour Quay waterfront, it combines the excitement of a classic west-coast fishing derby with a lively shoreside festival, making it one of the signature late-summer events on this part of Vancouver Island.

At the heart of it is the salmon derby: anglers head out onto the inlet chasing the big prizes of the Tyee Club's competition, in waters famous for their returning runs. Back on shore, the Harbour Quay fills with the fun of a community celebration — food and concessions, live music, local art and makers, and family activities, all wrapped around the docks and the working waterfront. It is a warm, down-to-earth event that captures the spirit of Port Alberni: proud of its rivers and inlet, its fishing and forestry roots, and its tight-knit community.

Port Alberni sits at the very centre of Vancouver Island, at the end of the long Alberni Inlet, and is the gateway between the east-coast highway and the wild Pacific Rim — Tofino, Ucluelet and Long Beach lie beyond it to the west. A festival weekend pairs easily with a salmon-fishing trip, a boat tour on the inlet, or a stop on the way to or from the coast. Bring the family, cheer on the derby, and enjoy a genuine Island community's biggest weekend of the season.