South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Heritage Foundation will host the Fall Fish Festival October 5 – 6, 2013, offering a variety of free, fun events with the beautiful backdrop of Taylor Creek in the fall.

Formerly the Kokanee Salmon Festival, the Fall Fish Festival will focus on the variety of fish species that live in Lake Tahoe and its rivers. In addition to the Kokanee, these species include the federally threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout and little-known smaller fish, such as speckled dace.

The weekend events feature children’s activities, food vendors and educational and streamside programs. Food vendors will include Hot Dog Rod, The Lake Tahoe Soccer League, and the Honey Bee Ice Cream truck. The trail run portion of the festival has been cancelled.

Proceeds from T-shirt sales benefit Forest Service conservation education programs in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. Not to be missed is the return of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s giant inflatable fish – the fish’s tail serves as the gateway to fun activity stations for kids. The festival’s mascots, Lulu the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout, and Sandy and Rocky Salmon, will make appearances, and there will be a special appearance by Smokey Bear.

The Fall Fish Festival and Oktoberfest at Historic Camp Richardson Resort occur the same weekend, so the parking lot at the visitor center fills quickly. The Forest Service encourages attendees to bike, walk or take public transportation to the event.

For more information and a complete schedule of activities, contact the Taylor Creek Visitor Center at 530-543-2674 or visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/FallFishFest. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.