Rain may have been in the forecast, but that did not deter crowds from attending the inaugural Viva Salem festival at Riverfront Park on Saturday.
There was much to see and do, plenty of delicious food cart offerings, and live performances all day from cultural dancing to live music on stage. Also featured were many different types of community booths with information on everything from community health to neighborhood services.
There was a special appearance by local basketball celebrity Evina Wetstbrook, a South Salem alumna who is now playing under contract for the Los Angles Sparks Women’s professional basketball team. Mayor Chris Hoy also read a proclamation on stage acknowledging Saturday, Sept. 23 as a day to support Latino owned business in Salem.
Dancers with Comunidad y Herencia Cultural perform on stage at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter) perform at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Kids watch the dance performances at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)A dancer with Comunidad y Herencia Cultural on stage at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter) on stage at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023 (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Evina Westbrook, a Salem native, graduate of South Salem High School and now under contract with the Los Angles Sparks basketball team, reflects on her success at the Viva Salem Festival on September 23, 2023 (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)The Viva Salem Festival pinata sign in front of the main stage at Riverfront Park on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform a dance from the Mexican state of Sinaloa at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform a dance from the Mexican state of Sinaloa at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Pedro Cruz holds his daughter Ariana Isabel Cruz Ecobedo as she paints her alebrije during a workshop that was held by Corazon Utilitarion during the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. An alebrije is an a brightly colored Mexican folk-art sculpture. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform a dance from the Mexican state of Sinaloa at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)A Charro shows his dance skills with machetes on stage during the Viva Salem Festival at Riverfront Park on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)The bouncy house was a big hit with the younger crowd at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter)A Charro shows his rope skills on stage during the Viva Salem Festival at Riverfront Park on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Dancers from the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese group leave the stage after performing at the Vive Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform a dance from the Mexican state of Sinaloa at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Yesenia Noriega from the City of Salem speaks with Viva Salem Festival attendees at the City’s Talent recruitment booth on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Dancers with the Casa de la Cultura Tlanese dance group perform at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Evina Westbrook, a Salem native, graduate of South Salem High School and now under contract with the Los Angles Sparks basketball team, reflects on her success at the Viva Salem Festival on September 23, 2023 (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)City of Salem Mayor Chris Hoy reads a proclamation to acknowledge Sept. 23, 2023 as Latino Owned Business Day in Salem at the Viva Salem Festival (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)Members of the crowd enjoy the Casa de Tlanese dancers at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter)Alma, Ava, Chad, and Mya Lucas enjoy some delicious Latino food and great entertainment at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter)Radiocasters from Radio Poder were on hand to do a live broadcast from the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter)A Charro shows his rope skills on stage during the Viva Salem Festival at Riverfront Park on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)There were many booths to visit at the Viva Salem Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter)Maria Hatler, registered dietitian, talks with Viva Salem Festival attendees about sugar levels in common foods at the community health booth on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to the 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.
