EVENTS: Forest fest, a circus and new plays
Two major festivals and several new shows make for plenty to do around Salem this weekend. Here’s your guide to events for Friday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 13.
Englewood Forest Fest
The northeast Salem celebration of trees, art, music, science and more returns to Englewood Park Saturday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park is located next to Englewood Elementary School at 1260 19th St. N.E.
The free event has activities for all ages, live performances, food and vendors to browse. Read more in our preview below.
Catch a show or circus
Two new plays and a circus debut this weekend.
Willamette University’s Theatre 33, a new play development company, is showing “The Names” by playwright Paul Lewis this weekend.
“Martina Visconti, a Jewish opera star, decides to remain in German-occupied Milan during World War II in hopes of protecting her impetuous younger sister Giulia, who has joined the Resistance. Meanwhile, an American GI in an embattled infantry unit south of Rome dreams of reaching Milan so that he can finally meet his operatic idol,” the play description reads. “A story of the bonds of love stretched to their very limits and the heart-wrenching choice one sister must make in a world that is falling into unfathomable darkness.”
Shows run Thursday, Aug. 10, through Sunday, Aug. 13, with shows at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday.
Shows are at Putnam Studio at Pelton Theatre on the university campus, 900 State St. Tickets are free with a $15 suggested donation and can be reserved in advance online.
Catch a new Pentacle Theatre production, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” opening this weekend.
The play, adapted from a 2003 novel of the same name, follows a teenager named Christopher who finds the body of his neighbor’s dog, and the mystery that he unravels afterward.
It opens on Friday, Aug. 11, and runs through Sept. 2, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and a 2 p.m. matinee Sundays. The Pentacle Theatre is located at 324 52nd Ave. N.W.
Venados Circus comes to Keizer with shows running Friday, Aug. 11, through Sunday, Aug. 20. The “Broadway-style circus” brings 90 minutes of animal-free entertainment including acrobats, jugglers, magicians and more. Shows are at Volcanoes Stadium, 6700 Field Of Dreams Way N.E., with multiple shows on weekends. Tickets start at $17.60 for kids and $28.60 for adults. View a full schedule and buy tickets online here.
KeizerFEST
The annual celebration of all things Keizer runs all weekend, with the KeizerFEST parade Saturday, Aug. 12, starting at 10:30 a.m. along North River Road.
The parade route runs from Lockhaven Drive to Glynbrook.
Vendors, exhibitors and a daily carnival run start Thursday at Keizer Rapids Park, 1900 Chemawa Rd. N. See a full schedule and more information on the Keizer Chamber of Commerce website.
The Moon listener party
Salem’s 105.5 The Moon is hosting a summer listener party at Kraftworks Taphouse, 241 Liberty St. N.E., starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. Join other music lovers for drink specials, contests and opportunities to mingle. See the event page on Facebook here.
Art and exhibits
See our roundup of Salem galleries and exhibits in August here.
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for over a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.
