It’s a time-honored holiday family tradition for Salemites to gather at the Willamette Heritage Center and wander around the lit paths that wind through creative light displays built throughout the compound of fourteen historic structures on site.
Such was the scene on Wednesday night with a festive crowd that also enjoyed the working blacksmith shop, telling Santa about their detailed lists, watching a rustic woodcarving demonstration, hearing a ukulele choir, doing some last-minute holiday shopping, and eating at The Old Mill Mission Mill Café.
Visitors could also experience the new special installation this year at the Heritage Center, “Finding Salem’s Chinatown(s).” The lights display is open until Friday from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Ticket sales start at 4:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center, and are also available online.
Buddy the Elf makes an appearance at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)One of the many lighted displays at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A large lighted Christmas tree that is set to music welcomes visitors to the Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A ukulele player in in the Cheers group plays the Pleasant Grove Church historical building entertains visitors at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Kyleeah and Cori Glassey head up one of the lighted paths at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Looking out over the back campus of the Willamette Heritage Center at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
A family looks in the windows of one of the decorated historic houses on the campus of the Willamette Heritage Center at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)The crowd enjoys the rustic wood carving demonstration by Brian Sparks at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A member of the crowd holds a lump of coal that the blacksmiths used to burn in their forge at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Don the blacksmith works on a tool at the forge in the smithy at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Families enjoy themselves at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Santa was getting a lot of wish list items at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Maranda Dominick was kept busy handing out candy canes at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
One constant at Magic at the Mill is the model trains. Most of the trains have been moved to another location, but this one is always set up for the event. It was up and running on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)A visitor looks at the new special installation Finding Salem’s Chinatown(s) at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Visitors make paper lanterns as part of the new special installation Finding Salem’s Chinatown(s) at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Kylie Pine, curator and manager of collections for Willamette Heritage Center, shows Anna Creswell-Miller and Grace Miller how the woolen loom worked at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Attendees make an owl ornament at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21 (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)People sign up for free Covid and flu shots from the Oregon Health Authority at the Magic at the Mill event. Staff said they had vaccinated quite a few people by Wednesday night (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.
