The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Heritage Foundation will host the Fall Fish Festival on Oct. 5-6 at Taylor Creek.

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 trail runs, children’s activities, and educational and streamside programs. Proceeds from T-shirt sales and the trail runs benefit Forest Service conservation education programs in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The festival will run from 10am-4pm each day.

There will be a special appearance by Smokey Bear.

Speaking of bears, some black bears in the area have learned to feed on the spawning salmon, and visitor center staff routinely encounter unsafe situations as guests get too close to the bears.

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, call (530) 543-2674 or go online.

The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.