Fin-ally. Depoe Bay salmon bake is back

After having to scale back for the past two years, the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce is finally able to bring back one its favorite events.

With fresh-baked salmon, live music and Native American dancing and drumming, the upcoming 65th Depoe Bay Salmon Bake this Saturday, Sept. 17, is something to catch.

“We’re pretty excited to bring back the classics and add some new things too,'' said Mellissa Sumner, director of the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce. “This year we will have local beer from the Depoe Bay Brewing Company, and we’re also really excited about the 65th annual merchandise.”

Commemorative posters, hoodies and t-shirts are emblazoned with a winning Pacific Northwest indigenous-inspired image.

 “We had 14 submissions to our logo contest and there were some incredible entries,” Sumner said. “We are extremely pleased with the winning design.”

The design also appears on the oversized and, apparently collectable, event tickets.

“They are the cutest paper tickets I’ve ever seen,” Sumner said. “I've had people ask if they can keep them after the event to put into a memory box.”

Started back in 1956 as the “Indian Style Salmon Bake,” the event was the marriage of two others: a local fish derby and a potlatch event for indigenous people of the Northwest called “Indian Summer and Homecoming.”

To this day, the salmon is baked in the traditional native style. Before sunrise on the morning of the event, an 80-foot line of fire is lit. Once the fire is roaring, thousands of pounds of salmon is placed alongside on alder stakes, the fillets held in place by cedar strips.

Each salmon is cooked for about 20 minutes on each side before it is served with a side of coleslaw, garlic bread and a drink.

Sweets will be available at the Neighbors for Kids’ Kids Zone dessert tent.

Dancers and drummers from different tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, will help keep the event’s connection to history and culture alive.

Music will also be provided during the day by Michael Dane and Brady Weidner.

And, a special demonstration will show what goes into preparing the fish.

“We are bringing back the fileting demonstration, which we’ve had some years but not all of them,” Sumner said. “Tony Taunton will show the whole process of getting the salmon ready for the fire line.”

Sumner said the event is being partially powered by new energy.

“We have a brand-new chamber board with fresh enthusiasm and we worked with many people in the community that also have lots of energy,” she said. “The chamber is really excited to bring back events like these.”

The Depoe Bay Salmon Bake is from 11 am to 4 pm at Depoe Bay City Park, located at SE Shell Avenue. For more information, go to the Depoe Bay Chamber of Commerce page on Facebook or call 541-765-2889.