Backbone HQ debuted the giant 20' long salmon it's been working on for a year at this year's Vashon Strawberry Festival parade, July 2024.

The entourage brought a spirit of reverance and joy to the procession, in honor of the beautiful 20' chinook salmon and the hundreds of hours volunteers put into it - Rob Briggs, design; Rod Tharp, lead construction; Tom Gross, painting; and several others, including Laura Daughenbaugh, sewist, and Jeff Snyder, construction.

Over 20 people accompanied the salmon down the streets of Vashon, with bells, drums, a saw, and other percussion-type instruments.

The new prop, an ocean migrating chinook salmon, joins Backbone's fleet of Salish Sea related inflatables, including Tahlequah and her calf and another 14' salmon.

Thank you to Dana Schuerholz for the photography that day, and to the many Backbone friends who showed up to honor the salmon!