La Conner residents and visitors can expect a powerful and visually stunning cultural event on Saturday as dozens of tribal canoes arrive at Swedabs Park during the annual “Paddle to Elwha 2025” Canoe Journey. 

From 3–6 p.m. July 26, Coast Salish canoe families will paddle south along the Swinomish Channel, many singing traditional songs as they approach the shoreline to formally ask permission to come ashore.

Canoes will land across from La Conner’s waterfront, which presents an excellent perch for watching the events unfold.

Festivities at Swinomish will include vendors and a Coastal Jam at the Swinomish Smokehouse at 8 p.m. Canoe families continue south on Sunday en route to Elwha for five days of celebration.

The Canoe Journey, which pays tribute to the Coast Salish tradition of gathering along and on the region’s waterways to connect, trade, and share ancestral teachings, was revived in 1989 as part of the Washington State Centennial Celebration.

View the Paddle to Elwha route map.

For more information visit: https://paddletoelwha.com