The Marion County Fair, an adults-only history tour and a Salem Art Association drag show are among the events happening this week.
Here’s the lineup of Salem events for the week from Thursday, July 10, to Wednesday, July 17. Browse all of Salem Reporter’s events coverage here.
Event descriptions come from posts and listings by organizers.
*Free events are marked with an asterisk.
Marion County Fair
Rides, marionberry pie and dog agility shows are among the attractions at this week’s Marion County Fair, which will be at the Oregon State Fairgrounds and Expo Center, 2330 17th St. N.E.
The fair runs Thursday from noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets at the gate are $9, $5 for seniors and youth ages 6-11 and free for kids under 5. Kids under 12 get in free on Sunday. Parking is $5 per vehicle.
Willamette Heritage Center special events
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.
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.
Lavender Festival
July 12-14: Arrowhead Lavender Farm & Co. is hosting its first annual Mid-Willamette Valley Lavender Festival. Located at 6373 Sunnyview Rd. N.E., it will include lavender vendors, food, lemonades, and u-pick. The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
SafeSleep Fundraiser
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., with timed entry.
Fun Fridays
* July 12: Fun Fridays return this week, bringing health care, literacy, early education and other resources to Northgate Park, 3575 Fairhaven Ave. N.E. The event goes from 4-7:30 p.m., and there will be free food from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Friday’s neighborhood event will be the only gathering at Northgate this year. Next week’s gathering will be held at St. Edward Catholic Church in Keizer, then at Salem Evangelical Church on July 26.
Live music, comedy, improv and local performances
Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St SE #150
July 12: 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: “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.
The Grand Theatre, 191 High St. N.E.
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.
July 13: Prismagic Presents: Small Guy: A Tiny Circus Story at the Grand Theatre. “The Cabaret under the couch has dwindling audiences due to covid lockdown! These critters need to make their living and nothing seems to be working. Tension in the cast is building between the mice, roaches, dust bunnies, and worms.” Doors open at 6 p.m., show is at 7 p.m. and general admission tickets are $20.
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.
Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E.
July 17: Comedian Colin Jost, a head writer for “Saturday Night Live” and co-anchor of its Weekend Update, will be at the Elsinore on Wednesday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets start at $44.50.
Salem Public Library, 2310 17th St. N.E.
*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 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.
Other venues
*July 11: 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 12: The Salem Art Association’s The Art of Drag Soirée will be at the Bush Barn Art Center, 600 Mission St. S.E. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with drag performances by Juno and Sterling Ray MacPherson. The event is free, but space is limited. RSVP online.
Live theater and cinema
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.
Classes, workshops and lectures
July 12: 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 from 1-2 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person and include museum admission. More information and a full schedule is here.
Markets and shopping
July 14: Moth and Flame Makers Market will celebrate local artists and makers on the third floor of the Reed Opera House, 189 Liberty St. N.E. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Also on Sunday, Cherry City Flea will bring local vintage clothes, art, jewelry and more to Salem Center Mall, 401 Center St. N.E. The market will be from noon to 5 p.m.
Every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Salem Public Market at 1240 Rural Avenue S.E.
Salem Community Markets will bring local produce, food and products to various places throughout the city all week.
The Wednesday Chemeketa Market runs from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Chemeketa Community College Agricultural Hub at 4000 Lancaster Drive N.E.
The Thursday West Salem Farmers Market runs from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at 1260 Edgewater St. N.W.
The Saturday Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 865 Marion St. N.E.
The Monday Hospital Market will be 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Salem Hospital’s campus, 875 Oak St., between building A & C.
Art and cultural exhibits
See what’s on display at local galleries and museums this month.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
