Saturday is Veterans Day, and Salem has a few options to observe the holiday. City offices will be closed Friday in observation of the holiday. The Salem Public Library is open Friday but closed Saturday.
This is your guide to events for Thursday, Nov. 9, through Sunday, Nov. 12.
Celebrate Veterans Day
Three unique local events offer several options for recognizing Veterans Day on Saturday, Nov. 11.
The Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Oregon State Capitol State Park on Northeast Court Street in front of the Capitol building.
The event will include a color guard, singing of the national anthem, playing of “Taps,” a wreath-laying and remarks by local dignitaries, according to an event description.
You can also learn about the soon-to-open Courtney Place veterans affordable housing project at Ratchet Brewing, 2475 25th St S.E., from 1-4 p.m. Andrew Holbert, the executive director of the project, will be on hand to discuss the project, and free tacos will be provided to the first 100 guests. One dollar of every beer sold will benefit the project.
The Willamette Master Chorus kicks off its season with its Veterans Concert, featuring musical highlights from the 1970s and 80s. Tickets are free to all veterans and Gold Star parents and spouses, and $27 for general admission.
“Musical highlights include songs by Fleetwood Mac, Burt Bacharach, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder. The chorus will be joined by the 5th Annual WMC High School Honor Choir. Patriotic anthems and service hymns will be sung to honor the various branches of the US military,” the event description says.
The concert is Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Smith Auditorium at Willamette University.
Catch a play
North Salem High School Theatre will conclude its run of the classic musical “Chicago.” Most language and sexual references have been removed from the performance, but the show is recommended for ages 13 and older.
This weekend’s performances are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults. They can be bought online. 765 14th St. N.E.
West Salem High School’s production of “The Lightning Thief,” a musical based on the best-selling book, opens this weekend. The show follows Percy Jackson, the half-blood son of a Greek god, for “an action-packed mythical adventure worthy of the gods,” according to an event description.
Shows are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Nov. 9-11, at 7 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for students and seniors and $5 for students with ID on Thursdays. Buy them online here. 1776 Titan Dr. N.W.
McKay High School performs Shakespeare classic “Romeo and Juliet” on Thursday, Nov. 9, and Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door, with admission free to veterans. 2440 Lancaster Dr. N.E.
Corban University presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, and continuing next weekend. Adults are $15, students and seniors $12 and children $10. 5000 Deer Park Dr. S.E.
Coming up:
Pentacle Theatre’s production of “The Play that Goes Wrong” opens Friday, Nov. 17. Tickets here.
Blanchet Catholic School’s production of “The Curious Savage” opens Thursday, Nov. 16. Tickets here.
Live music
Salem Pops Orchestra plays “Hits of the Greatest Generation and more with Gail Gage Jazz” on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 3 p.m. at the East Salem Community Center, 1850 45th Ave. N.E. Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for general admission and are available online.
“A Musical Journey: Chopin and Ravel” features Pianist Greg Lief and the Cherry City Quartet performing works from both composers Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. The show is a benefit for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, 5090 Center Street N.E. Cost is a suggested donation of $20 per person.
The Listeso String Quartet will perform the music of Taylor Swift in a candlelight concert at the Grand Theater, 187 High St. N.E. on Saturday, Nov. 11. A 6:30 p.m. show is sold out, but a 9 p.m. show still has tickets available. Tickets range from $30-$64 and are available online.
Roller derby
Cherry City Roller Derby hosts a triple-header afternoon and evening of roller derby action.
At 2 p.m., the junior Cherry Blossoms take on Tomorrowland Junior Roller Derby out of Tacoma. Salem’s own rec team, the Renegades, plays at 4:30 p.m. against Tilted Thunder Roller Derby, and the all-star 8-Wheel Assassins take on Fun Crowd at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the entire event are $12 in advance or $15 cash/$16 card at the door. 1335 Madison St. N.E.
Home and garden show
Peruse over 70 vendors of home and garden products at the free three-day expo at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. N.E., in the Jackman Long building. Hours are Friday, Nov. 10, from noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
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.
