OROVILLE, CA (MPG) - For several years, the Butte County Office of Education has provided insight into their after school program curriculum during Oroville’s annual Salmon Festival, and 2019’s event was no different.

Schools from around Butte County, including Manzanita Elementary School, had staff and Expanded Learning Program (ELP) participants on hand to interact with fun activities for the hundreds of children and adults that streamed into the festival-like atmosphere. BCOE’s event was held in its traditional venue – the park behind the main office at 1859 Bird St. in Oroville.

The BCOE Expanded Learning Program, which provides after school education and recreation to thousands of children around Butte County, has been working with the Salmon Festival organizers for more than 10 years. It’s collection of 23 booths included science, technology, art, crafts, and sports for visitors.

Some of those hands-on opportunities for patrons, including a giant Connect Four game from Ishi Hills, arts and crafts from Concow and Oakdale Heights schools, and golf by Manzanita Elementary.

The Salmon Festival is organized through a partnership between many organizations in the Oroville community; the Department of Water Resources is a supporter.

This year marked the 25^th anniversary of the Oroville Salmon Festival, which was first established to celebrate the return of salmon to the Feather River. The free event and street fair brought thousands of visitors to historic downtown Oroville for environmental and cultural education, including DWR-led tours of the Feather River Fish Hatchery.