No major festivals will fill city parks this weekend, but Salem’s 4th of July Spectacular will bring a free fireworks show to the state fairgrounds Tuesday.
If explosions in the sky aren’t your cup of tea, the weekend also features several markets, shows and other outings.
Watch the fireworks
Salem’s 4th of July Spectacular runs from 3-11 p.m. at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. N.E.
Gates open at 3 p.m. for a carnival and food and beverage vendors, plus live music. Family fun lawn games are free, and carnival tickets will be available for purchase at the fairgrounds.
The event features a concert by Alabama at the L.B. Day Amphitheater starting at 8 p.m., with a pre-show music from Jessie Leigh. Tickets are required for the concert and start at $67.
Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. and are free, though parking at the fairgrounds is $10-20 for the event. Tickets for Alabama are available online.
Baseball, park movie for kids
Salem’s Movies in the Park series kicks off Friday, June 30 with a free screening of “Strange World,” the Disney animated film featuring the Clade family, legendary explorers, on a subterranean adventure.
The movie will begin at sunset, approximately 9:30 p.m., at the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park, 200 Water St. N.E.
The event is free, with donations accepted. People may bring blankets and lawn chairs. No alcohol is allowed, but people may bring their own food and drinks.
Saturday, July 1 is Kids’ Day at the Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, with two baseball games and free admission for kids 12 and under.
The Salem Kroc Center and Mavericks League are sponsoring the event. At 1 p.m., the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes play the Salem Senators, and at 6 p.m. the Campesinos de Salem-Keizer play the Portland Mavericks.
The stadium is located at 6700 Field of Dreams Way in Keizer. Tickets for adults start at $8 and can be purchased online.
Run for veterans
Help Oregon Veterans, a Keizer nonprofit that provides emergency shelter for homeless veterans, is hosting a fun run and walk to raise money Saturday, July 1.
The course is at the McNary Golf Course, 155 McNary Estates Dr N. The race begins at 9 a.m. Online registration is closed, but same-day registration opens at 8 a.m. and costs $25 per person.
Theater, comedy and music
The Pentacle Theatre’s production of “Exit Laughing” closes this weekend, with performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The mature comedy follows the misadventures of a group of friends who “borrow” one deceased member’s ashes from the funeral home for bridge night.
Tickets range from $17-37 and can be purchased online or at the box office before the show. More information is online. The theater is located at 324 52nd Ave. NW, off Highway 22.
Infinity Room hosts two comedy shows Friday, June 30. At 7 p.m., catch Electric Baguette Improv Comedy, and at 9:30 p.m., Sir Lance Edward will take the stage. Tickets are $10-$15 and available online. Infinity Room is located downtown at 210 Liberty St. S.E., Suite 150.
Salem’s River City Rock Star Academy is hosting its end-of-season show at the Yard Food Park Saturday, July 1. Catch rock music from student performers 1-7 p.m. Music is free. The food park is located at 4106 State St.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
