Events this week in Salem include free punk rock performances mixed with resources for youth at Punx in the Park, the opening of roller derby season with Cherry City Roller Derby and the 75th anniversary of the Salem Art Fair.
Here’s the lineup of Salem events for the week from Thursday, Sept. 12 through Wednesday, Sept. 18. Browse all of Salem Reporter’s events coverage here.
*Starred events are free to attend, although they may include ticketed components or a suggested donation.
Salem Art Fair
Friday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Sept. 15: Starting with a Thursday night kick-off, the Salem Art Fair returns to Bush’s Pasture Park, bringing together almost 200 different artists, musicians and performers. The fair, organized by the Salem Art Association, will host performances on its main stage throughout the weekend, including string bands, a children’s dance studio and 1990s band, The Daddies.
Artists fall into 17 different categories, such as digital art, glass, painting and photography. Along with the dozens of artwork options to take in, fairgoers can enjoy plenty of food and beverage options, including a new wine garden.
Advance fair tickets are $11.68 for adults, $9.60 for seniors 55+ and veterans, $6.49 for teens and free for children 12 and under. Admission is free for Oregon Trail Card holders or Oregon Health Plan members. Read our preview of this year’s art fair here.
Punx in the Park
*Saturday, Sept. 14: Attend a free punk rock festival in Marion Square Skate Park put on by Punx with Purpose, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting at-risk youth in Marion and Polk counties. The event features bands like 1876, Keddie Resort and The Disorderlies. Bands performing at the concert will also host meet-and-greet booths.
The event doubles as a resource fair by providing free donated food, access to mentorship and a free clothing closet for people ages 11-18. There will be food trucks, merch and a “Build-A-Punk” station, where people can get their hair done in punk fashion.
More information about the concert is available on their Facebook page. Punx in the Park goes from 12 to 6 p.m.
Mount Angel Oktoberfest
*Thursday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Sept. 15: “The largest folk festival in the Northwest” returns to Mount Angel, Oregon this week bright and early at 7 a.m. on Thursday. Oktoberfest celebrates German traditions, specifically from the country’s state of Bavaria. The festival brings together traditional dance, food, drink and religious practices to host a four-day celebration for people around Oregon and beyond to enjoy.
The festival includes eight venues, three of which require an admission fee. Those three are the Biergarten, Weinegarten and Alpinegarten. The festival’s schedule is available online and provides a list of events that have an admission cost.
More information about the festival is available on the Oktoberfest website. The festival provides a shuttle to Mount Angel, which departs from the state fairgrounds.
Cherry City Roller Derby
Saturday, Sept. 14: Cherry City Roller Derby opens its 2024-25 season with a doubleheader roller derby bout at the Madhouse, 1335 Madison St NE. The junior team, which includes ages 7 to 17, plays at 4 p.m. and adults at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $12 presale or $15 at the door, and $30 for a family pass allowing two adults and all children in the household.
Live music, comedy, improv and other entertainment
Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. S.E. #150
Friday, Sept. 13: At 7 p.m., it’s all-ages improv with Electric Baguette. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. At 9:30 p.m., there’s a special Friday the 13th improv show where we invite comedians to share stories of their unluckiest moments and spin them into comedy gold. Tickets $12 in advance or $15 at the door. 21+ show.
Grand Theatre, 187 High St. N.E.
Thursday, Sept. 12-Friday, Sept. 13: For two nights, Film to Table presents “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” on screen and delicious food at the table. People can choose between a full dining or snacking experience to follow along with the food in the movie, or can opt out of food and have a typical movie viewing. Tickets range from $15 to $60. Thursday and Friday tickets are available online.
Saturday, Sept. 14: A night of “decadence, bawdiness, and damsels (not) in distress,” features Kat Robichaud and her original songs, dance and circus. The Misfit Cabaret includes a variety of performances, from burlesque to drag, and comedy to romance. For the 21+ crowd, the show kicks off at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $35, VIP tickets are $75.
Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E.
Saturday, Sept. 14: Join the Little River Band, the world’s best singing band according to Eagles band member Glenn Frey, for a night of music and nostalgia. Little River Band’s Wayne Nelson has been a band member for over 40 years and has worked on 24 of the band’s albums and CDs. The band will bring their usual harmonies and classic songs for fans to enjoy. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Presale tickets cost between $39 and $75, and cost $5 more the day of.
Wednesday, Sept. 18: Dive into the songs of legendary singer Prince with the band touring and paying tribute to the passed artist. “Prince Again: A Tribute to Prince” honors the singer by playing the hits like “Raspberry Beret,” “1999” and “Kiss.” The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $32.50 to $52.50.
Salem Cinema, 1127 Broadway St. N.E.
Sunday, Sept. 15: A screening of “JOIN OR DIE,” a documentary about community connections, invites community members and organizations for a viewing and discussion on the importance of community involvement. The documentary delves into the relationship between community and democracy. Salem Cinema invites organizations and groups from the community to represent themselves at the screening. The film starts at 6 p.m. and tickets cost $11, or $5 if signed up for the IRL MOVIE CLUB.
Other venues
Thursday, Sept. 12-Saturday, Sept. 14: “Clue,” a play based on the 1985 murder mystery comedy movie and beloved board game, will show at the Pentacle Theatre. This is the play’s closing week. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $25, and are half off for students and Oregon Trail Card holders. The theater is located at 324 52nd Ave. N.W.
*Friday, Sept. 13: A free concert at Riverfront Park begins at 6 p.m. at the Gerry Frank Amphitheater. The Blue Flame Dames will lead the night with blues, jazz and funk music. The concert will also feature performers Ellen Whyte and Joanne Broh. The concert is put on by the city of Salem, Grand Theatre and RiverCity Rockstar Academy, and the park is at 200 Water St. N.E.
*Saturday, Sept. 14: Xicha Brewing North hosts a night of cumbia dancing with DJ Pedro Cavalire and Orlando Pacheco. The night starts with a group cumbia lesson at 7 p.m. with a social dance session afterwards. The event takes place at Xicha Brewing’s North Salem location, 2195 Hyacinth St. N.E.
Classes and workshops
*Saturday, Sept. 14: The Salem Public Library is hosting a zine workshop for those interested in learning how to publish their own zine, a noncommercial homemade or online publication typically devoted to art or a specific and uncommon subject. The workshop is led by Victoria Timm and Rain Holland of the Cherry City Zine Collective and takes place at the main library at 585 Liberty Street S.E. from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Registration is encouraged for the free event, but drop-ins are welcome. More information is available online.
Markets and shopping
Sales
*Friday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Sept. 15: Alongside the Salem Art Fair at Bush’s Pasture Park, the Mission Street Parks Conservancy is hosting its annual Art Fair Plant Sale. Taking place beneath the tree shade by the Bush House Museum, there will be lots of plants for sale provided by local nurseries. People can choose from herbs, succulents, house plants, native plants and more.
*Saturday, Sept. 14: A rummage sale at Bush Elementary School is fundraising for the Oregon Native American Education Foundation. The sale offers free shoes for students, an auction and a drumming and dancing performance. Attendance is free, but bottle and can donations are accepted. The rummage sale is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the address is 430 14th St. S.E.
*Saturday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 15: Spark Studio Salem, a local nonprofit and makerspace, has a weekend garage sale at its building, 2701 22nd St. S.E. The garage sale will have various tools and materials available for purchase or just browsing. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Information can be found on their Facebook event.
Markets
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 market ends for the year at the end of October.
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 Wednesday market ends for this year on Sept. 25.
The Thursday West Salem Farmers Market runs from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at 1260 Edgewater St. N.W. This week’s market is the last Thursday West Salem Farmers Market for the year.
The Saturday Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 865 Marion St. N.E. The Saturday Market ends in late October.
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. The Monday market ends for the year on Sept. 30.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore is working as a reporter at Salem Reporter through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden internship program. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
