This July, Salem events include an Independence Day fireworks show, the Hoopla street basketball tournament and a celebration of all things steam-powered. Here’s your guide to Salem events and live entertainment for July 2024.
*Starred events are free to attend, though they may include ticketed components or a suggested donation.
Have an event you’d like included in our monthly calendar? Please send it to Managing Editor Rachel Alexander, [email protected] for consideration. Include the date, time, location, a brief description, cost, information about tickets if applicable and a contact email or phone number.
Festivals, fairs and community events
July 4
*Salem’s annual Independence Day event includes demolition derby, basketball and a free fireworks show. The celebration runs from 3-11 p.m. at the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center and concludes with a free 20-minute fireworks show. Tickets for the variety of other events and activities can be purchased online.
July 11-14
The Marion County Fair is coming to the state fairgrounds, bringing fried food, animals and rides. It runs Thursday from noon to 10 p.m., from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $7, $5 for seniors and youth ages 6-11 and free for kids under 5. Kids under 12 get in free on Sunday.
July 14
The Salem Day Out for Court and Community Care brings family-friendly activities to Willamette Heritage Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes face painting, games, a silent auction, raffle and more. Tickets $25 per adult, $10 per child or $65 for a family of four. Proceeds benefit Court and Community Care, which offers free drop-in child care to families attending court.
July 21
*The Ironman 70.3 kilometer triathlon returns to Salem, with the race beginning and ending in Riverfront Park. Free to spectate, with road closures expected. See more on the event website.
July 23-28
*Hoopla, Salem’s 3×3 basketball tournament, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. The event has grown into nearly a week of demonstration games, contests and special events. But the focus of the action, the 3×3 games, still take place Saturday and Sunday on streets surrounding the Oregon State Capitol. Spectating is free. More information on the Hoopla website.
July 27-28, Aug. 3-4
The Great Oregon Steam-Up, a celebration of steam-powered machinery and early farming life in Oregon, runs two weekends at Powerland Heritage Park in Brooks. Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets $17 for adults, $12 for youth ages 13-17, and free for kids 12 and under. See a full schedule and buy tickets on the event website.
Comedy, improv and other entertainment
July 6
This month’s “Slay ‘Em” local comedy showcase at Infinity Room will celebrate the comedian Crash’s 21st birthday. Doors 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. All-ages but not clean. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
July 11
“Sexy Talk,” a stand-up show about sex, love and relationships will take to the Infinity Room stage. The show is 21+, and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
July 12
Uncover the secrets of the museum at the Willamette Heritage Center during the adults-only Museum After Hours tour event from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The tour costs $10 per person and can be reserved online.
At Infinity Room, two teachers will share stand-up stories from the classroom in “The Unteachables Comedy Tour.” Doors open at 6 p.m. for a 7 p.m. show, which is 18+. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
Later Friday night at the Infinity Room, “Active B!tch Face” will bring feminist improv and stand-up from Oregon comedians. The show is 21+, doors 9 p.m., show at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
July 13
Prismagic Presents: Small Guy: A Tiny Circus Story at the Grand Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m., show is at 7 p.m. and general admission tickets are $20.
“Read the Room,” a comedy fundraiser for the Salem Public Library, will include a raffle with prizes from local businesses. Raffle tickets will be sold for $2 each, or three for $5. The show is all-ages, but not clean, and starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
July 18
Drag Time! With RiRi Calienté will feature local drag performances paired with food and cocktails.The show is 16+, and doors open at 7 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
July 19
Infinity Room’s house improv team Electric Baguette will perform starting at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. all-ages show. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
July 20
Get your classic car fix at the 15th Annual Rust O Rama car show at the Oregon State Fair Expo Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking at the event costs $5 per vehicle and includes live music, and vendors.
July 24
*Magician Jeff Evans will put on a family performance full of magic and funny stunts at 11 a.m in the Loucks Auditorium at Salem Public Library. Doors open 15 minutes prior to the show. Seating is first-come, first-served.
July 25
“Oral Fixation” at Infinity Room will share comedic stories from dentists Dr. Brady Smith and Dr. Bert Walpack. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
July 27
Gilbert House for Grown Ups opens the children’s museum to adults from 7-9 p.m. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available with adult games to play at the museum. Tickets $15 pre-ordered and $20 at the door. Learn more on the museum website.
Live theater, dance and cinema
July 2
“Borromini and Bernini: The Challenge for Perfection” will show at Salem Cinema at 6 p.m. The film explores Baroque architecture in Rome. Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 the day of the event.
July 7
“Where Olive Trees Weep,” a documentary showing the resilience of Palestinian people, will show at Salem Cinema at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event, and benefit the Oregon Food Bank & Marion Polk Food Share.
July 10
A special screening of “Meet Me in the Bathroom,” a documentary exploring the New York music scene in the early 2000s, screens at Salem Cinema. The film starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $11.
July 12
*“Barbie,” which follows the doll as she travels to the real world, will show for free at Riverfront Park, part of Salem’s Movies in the Park lineup. The show starts around sunset, approximately 9 p.m.
July 14, 15
Salem Cinema’s latest National Theater Live showings brings filmed British plays to the silver screen with “Dear England.” Gareth Southgate (Joseph Fiennes) has brought hope back to the England squad but with the nation’s expectations upon his shoulders, what happens when football doesn’t come home? Shows Sunday at 12 p.m. and Monday at 6 p.m. Tickets $15 in advance or $18 day of.
July 17
*Paradise of Samoa showcases Pacific Islander dances in the Loucks Auditorium at Salem Public Library. Show at 11 a.m., doors open 15 minutes prior.
July 20, 21
Pentacle Theatre will present a reading of “Spiral: The Musical.” The musical will go through a developmental workshop at Pentacle most of July, before two readings on stage Saturday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 21, at 2 p.m. $35 donation is suggested for tickets.
July 23
A special one-night screening of “Phoenix, Oregon” at Salem Cinema will benefit the Englewood Forest Festival. Defying midlife haze, two friends seize an unlikely opportunity to reinvent their lives, quitting their jobs to restore an old bowling alley and serve the “world’s greatest pizza.” Show at 6:30 p.m., tickets $15 in advance or $18 at the door.
July 24
*From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Loucks Auditorium, 585 Liberty Street S.E. magician Jeff Evans will put on a family performance full of magic and funny stunts. Doors open 15 minutes prior to the show.
July 26
*“Wonka,” the musical origin story of the whimsical chocolatier, will show for free at Riverfront Park, part of Salem’s Movies in the Park lineup. The show starts around sunset, approximately 8:45 p.m.
July 25-28, Aug. 1-4
*Theatre 33 closes its summer season with “Gone” by Lolly Ward. A will provides peace of mind as four stepsiblings divide their anticipated inheritance with generosity, suspicion and greed. Shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the M. Lee Pelton Theatre at Willamette University. Tickets free with a suggested $15 donation.
Live music and nightlife
July 5
Wire Monkey Mama, The Doug Fury’s and Ace Stardust will play at Infinity Room. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show, which will be 21+ after 10 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
July 11
New Orleans band Bon Bon Vivant will bring a blend of singer-songwriter, pop, americana, dark ballads and up-tempo indie dance music to Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.
*Ty Curtis will play blues rock at West Salem City Park as part of the free Salem Electric Summer Concert Series. The show starts at 6:30 p.m.
July 13
*Melao de Cuba is coming to the Salem Public Library Loucks Auditorium, 2-3 p.m. The performance mixes traditional sounds and modern Cuban music. The event is free and first-come first-seated.
July 14
The Brothers Collection, a Salem car museum, is having a fundraiser for the SafeSleep United women’s shelter. The $75 ticket includes a meal and museum tour, and all proceeds go to the shelter. The fundraiser goes from 12-5 p.m.
July 17
An Elton John tribute band will play at the Grand Theatre. Tom Cridland will perform lead vocals and piano. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.
July 18
The Gail Gage Jazz Band will play at West Salem City Park as part of the free Salem Electric Summer Concert Series. The show starts at 6:30 p.m.
July 19
Satiric songwriter Roy Zimmerman will entertain live at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem. Cost is $25 or pay what you can at the door.
At Infinity Room, WyWolf, The Vardaman Ensemble and Accidental Intoxication will perform starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
July 20
MIG Fest returns for a celebration of punk and ska music at the Minto Island Growers farm from 1-8 p.m. Headlined by Los Angeles band Bad Cop/Bad Cop, the annual event typically sells out. Tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for kids age 5-12, and free for kids 4 and under.
Salem Art Association hosts its first Summer Celebration Party, featuring live bluegrass music, art, wine and dancing at the Bush Barn Art Center from 7-9 p.m. Tickets start at $25 for art association members and $35 for general admission until July 16.
Tribute band The Red NOT Chilli Peppers will perform at the Elsinore Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25. The Elsinore is at 170 High St. S.E.
Metal bands Wizard of the Woods, Slow Goat and Black Ember will perform at Infinity Room starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
July 24
Grammy-winning Reggae band Inner Circle will take the stage at the Elsinore. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30-$40.
July 25
Roundhouse Band will play bluegrass, folk and southern rock at at West Salem City Park as part of the free Salem Electric Summer Concert Series. The show starts at 6:30 p.m.
July 26
Catch The Oregon Opry with Eli Howard, The Greater Good and Tuesday String Band at the Grand Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 online and $20 the day of the show.
July 27
In The Pink, a Portland-based Pink Floyd tribute band, will perform at the Grand Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.
July 31
*A free performance by Los Angeles-based children’s musician and songwriter Nathalia comes to the Chemeketa Community College auditorium from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show is an interactive bilingual family show covering themes such as space exploration and cruising the Amazon River.
Classes, workshops and lectures
July 6
*Learn the basics of berry care and selection in a Marion County Master Gardeners workshop from 9-11 a.m. The event is held at the organization’s demonstration garden in Salem. Free, but advance registration required.
July 9
*Kids can participate in the OMSI Science Exploration Pit Crew event where they get the opportunity to learn about science and engineering by building their own cars at the Salem Public Library. Space is limited and registration is required. Two sessions, 1-2 p.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free.
July 12, 19, 26
Families can learn about Salem’s Indigenous residents, the history of the Oregon Territory and more in a series of weekly summer classes offered on Fridays at the Willamette Heritage Center. Tickets are $10 per person. More information and a full schedule is here.
July 18-Oct. 3
*“Make Parenting a Pleasure” is a free 12-week course offered Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Chemeketa Community College’s child development center. Dinner is provided, and free childcare is available on-site for children ages 3-10. Younger children can remain with parents during class. Free, but registration required.
July 20
*Learn the basics of bud grafting to clone fruit varieties onto existing trees. The class runs 9-11 a.m. at the Marion County Master Gardeners demonstration garden in Salem. Free, but register in advance online.
STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected].
A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE.
