More than 14 canoe families will paddle from West Seattle across Elliott Bay on Saturday, Sept. 19, landing one by one at Pier 62 to ask permission to come ashore.

It is the centerpiece of the 34th annual Salmon Homecoming, a free, all-day celebration of Indigenous culture and the salmon's return.

"Those 14 families will start over out in West Seattle, pull their way across the bay," said Jordan Remington, Indigenous programs curator for Friends of Waterfront Park and a Salmon Homecoming Alliance board member, in an interview with KIRO 7. "They will all pull up in front of this floating dock here at Pier 62 and come each at a time, ask permission to come ashore and join the festivities."

The canoe landing is scheduled for noon.

The rest of the day runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. across Pier 62 and the rebuilt Pier 58. Pier 58 reopened in July 2025 after a multi-year reconstruction following the old structure's 2020 collapse, according to Hoodline, citing Seattle Parks and Recreation. The rebuilt pier added 50,000 square feet of public park space.

This year's expansion across both piers means more room for the Native vendor market, open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Pier 58 and Pier 62. A weaving workshop opens at 10 a.m. on Pier 62. Salmon plates and Indian tacos go on sale at 11 a.m. Cultural sharing begins at 1 p.m. on Pier 58, featuring groups including Puyallup, Lhaq'temish, Salish Spirit, Sacred Water and others, according to the Friends of Waterfront Park event page.

The event is free and open to all ages. Accessibility resources include ASL interpreters on stage, closed captioning via QR code, a sensory tent, a nursing tent, assisted listening devices and reserved priority seating.

Regional tribes and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission launched the first formal Salmon Homecoming festival in 1993, according to Hoodline, citing the Museum of History and Industry. The Salmon Homecoming Alliance became an independent nonprofit in 2001.

The Seattle waterfront sits on Dzidzilalich, the Lushootseed name for the historic estuary and beach. The city added that name to street signage along Alaskan Way and Elliott Way in April 2023, according to Hoodline, citing the City of Seattle.

Saturday's celebration is the final summer-season programming event supported by Friends of Waterfront Park. Organizers encourage attendees to RSVP in advance so they can estimate attendance.