There’s an array of egg hunts to embark on in Salem this Easter weekend, plus a nighttime viewing of cherry blossoms and a slew of live shows.
This is your guide to Salem events from Friday, March 29, to Sunday, March 31.
Easter festivities
Skyline Baptist Church in southwest Salem will host a family Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 30, at 10 a.m.
The free, annual event involves all family members in games, crafts and story time before kids will be broken up into age groups for the egg hunt. The church is located at 4787 Skyline Rd. S.
Colorful eggs will fill the Kroc Center’s swimming pools on Saturday for its underwater Easter egg hunt. There is only room for the first 50 children to register in each age group: 4 and under, 5-8 years old (both groups in a leisure pool) and 9-12 years old in a competition pool.
Tickets are $5 and can be bought online. The event starts at 10:45 a.m. and is open to the public. The Kroc Center is at 1865 Bill Frey Dr. N.E.
The Hallman-Northgate Neighborhood Family Council is hosting a “Welcome Spring” event on Saturday at Northgate Park, 3575 Fairhaven Ave. N.E.
The event will include an announcement of a new park mural, an egg hunt, bracelet-making, a clown performance, a children’s dance party and a children’s program presentation by ENLACE Cross-Cultural Development Corp., according to an event flier. It will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with free pizza at 5 p.m.
Enjoy a free sundae at a south Salem ice cream shop this Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon. It’s the fifth year that On Any Sundae, 3987 Commercial St. S.E., is giving them away on Easter.
Rainbow sherbet sundaes with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles are on the menu, as well as a dairy-free option. Everyone is invited. Any tips will go to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland.
Kids and adults are also invited to the free Orchard Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday at Stomp By Croft Vineyards, 5475 River Rd. S. The egg hunt starts at 1 p.m., but people are asked to arrive between noon and 12:30 p.m. to check in at the tasting room and collect their basket. “Eggs will be stuffed with various treats, prizes, winnings and more,” an event listing said.
Then, enjoy wine, beer, pizza made from scratch and live music by Nathan Junior until 5 p.m.
Sights to see
The A.N. Bush Gallery is continuing its Young Artists’ Showcase for a 15th year.
The exhibit presents artwork created by hundreds of K-12 students at the Bush Barn Art Center, 600 Mission St. S.E. It will be on display through Sunday.
Stop by the State Capitol State Park one night for “Yozakura,” an event in which park rangers will light up cherry blossoms with Japanese lanterns and lights. “Bring a blanket, camping chairs, and a nighttime picnic to enjoy under the canopy of trees,” an event listing said.
The trees will be lit from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every night through next Saturday, April 6. No alcohol is allowed in the park and it closes at 10 p.m.
Live performances
Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. S.E. #150, will host several live shows this weekend:
- Zak Toscani will perform standup comedy on Thursday. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door. All ages are allowed but the show will not be clean.
- The Electric Baguette All-Ages Improv on Friday, is a unique show based on audience suggestions. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door.
- Simon Kaufman will perform standup comedy on Friday at 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door. The show is 21+.
- Salem-based punk rock band Wire Monkey Mama will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. The show will also feature rock performers Ace Stardust from Salem and Superball from Bend. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show will be 21+ after 10 p.m. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door.
You can also watch stand-up comedy performances by Phillip Kopczynski and Carl Lee at Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre on Friday from 7:30-9:45 p.m. Tickets start at $20 and can be bought online. All ages are allowed but the show will not be clean. The theater is located at 187 High St. N.E.
The Grand will also host a “Women of the Blues” double-header concert on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m. You can learn more about the artists and buy $20 tickets on the theater’s website. Joanne Broh Band featuring Garry Meziere will perform alongside Northwest Women Rhythm & Blues.
Salem Cinema, 1127 Broadway St. N.E., will have a special week-long screening of the film “God & Country” starting this Friday. Tickets are $11. The film is showing Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3:45 p.m. After the opening night screening, there will be a Q&A and panel discussion with Sen. Deb Patterson, Willamette University Professor David Gutterman and Rev. Robin Lunn of First Congregational United Church of Christ.
Directed by Dan Partland and produced by Rob Reiner, the film “looks at the implications of Christian Nationalism and how it distorts not only our constitutional republic, but Christianity itself,” according to an event listing. It considers the question, “What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money and belief into hyper-nationalism? This provocative conversation-starter features insights from religious leaders, scholars, journalists and historians and is a clarion call to understand the nuances of faith and political identity.
Coming up
Local bands can sign up to perform at the Grand Theatre on Wednesday, April 3 for a “live band karaoke.” The all-ages show is 7-10 p.m. and has a $10 cover charge. People will receive a signup sheet by email after buying a ticket.
A Van Halen tribute band will play two hours of rock classics from the David Lee Roth era on Wednesday at the Elsinore Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. for JUMP – America’s Van Halen Experience. Tickets range from $32.50 to $52.50.
Comedian Larry the Cable Guy will perform standup next Saturday, April 6, at the Elsinore. Doors open at 7 and the show starts at 8. Tickets range from $59 to $125 and will cost $5 more on the day of the show.
The Cherry City Flea Market will be held on Sunday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Salem Center Mall, 401 Center St. N.E. The event will include vintage and handmade clothing, art, jewelry and decor from local “makers, curators and collectors,” according to its website. Admission is free.
CORRECTION: The free sundaes at On Any Sundae in Salem are available from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, March 31. An earlier version incorrectly said the sundaes were available until 2 p.m. Salem Reporter apologizes for the error.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
