This week in Salem, drive through a holiday light show at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, attend an open house of art studios at Willamette Heritage Center or shop from art vendors and local restaurants.
Here’s the lineup of Salem events for the week from Thursday, Nov. 21, to Wednesday, Nov. 27. 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.
Holiday events
*Friday, Nov. 22-Dec. 22: Start enjoying the holiday season with a festive snack and drink or fun carnival ride. Starting on Friday, the Holiday Village will be open at the Oregon State Fairgrounds livestock pavilion, 2330 17th St. N.E. Holiday Village has a market full of locally-made crafts and on weekends, people can take photos with Santa. The event runs on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free but parking is $5 per vehicle. More information can be found online.
Friday, Nov. 22-Jan. 4: The Magic of Lights experience is coming to the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, 2330 17th St. N.E. A mile-long stretch of the fairgrounds will be transformed into a bright holiday wonderland starting Friday and running until Jan. 4. The drive through holiday light experience will go from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 p.m. weekends. A standard vehicle pass starts at $23 in advance. More information can be found online.
Saturday, Nov. 23: The city of Salem’s Parks and Recreation Department hosts its annual Turkey Trot at Riverfront Park with 1k, 5k and 10k options. Dogs on leash, strollers and costumes welcomed. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. Registration starts at $6.30.
Kittens
Thursday, Nov. 21: Santiam Brewing hosts another Beer and Kittens from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Grab a beer or dinner while snuggling adoptable kittens from local foster-based rescue Meow Village. For every pint sold, $1 is donated to Meow Village.
Live music, comedy, improv and other entertainment
Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. S.E. #150
Thursday, Nov. 21: RiRi Caliente returns to Infinity Room with another night of drag entertainment followed by karaoke. “Drag Time!” performances start at 8 p.m. Following performances, karaoke with RiRi Caliente starts at 10 p.m. and goes until closing. “Drag Time!” tickets are $10 in advance, and $12 at the door. Karaoke is free.
Friday, Nov. 22: Comedian Ify Nwadiwe headlines a night of laughs with MonsterBox Comedy. The “professional nerd” is not just a comedian but also an actor and writer. The lineup includes other Northwest comedians like Ben Harkins and Adam Pasi. The show starts at 9:30 p.m., doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 online, $18 at the door.
Saturday, Nov. 23: Electronic rock and pop groups The King Dot, Verbash and Sustentacula will take turns on the stage to perform synth pop and rock music. The show starts at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $13 at the door.
Grand Theatre, 187 High St. N.E.
Friday, Nov. 22: Comedians Sean Jordan and Geoff Tate will entertain at Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 online and $25 at the door.
Saturday, Nov. 23: Hillstomp, a Portland junkbox blues duo, will perform their blend of Appalachian rhythms and Mississippi blues music. Doors are at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 online and $25 the day of the show.
Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E.
Friday, Nov. 22: Straight No Chaser, a male a cappella group, will perform. The group consists of nine men who have sold over 2 million albums and 1.5 million concert tickets worldwide. Doors open at 7 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show. Tickets start at $45.
Sunday, Nov. 24: Celebrate the beginning of Festival Chorale Oregon’s 46th season by enjoying a performance of Mozart’s “Requiem.” The chorale, which includes 70 non-auditioned singers, has performed around the world on multiple tours and in the esteemed Lincoln Center and Carnegie hall in New York City. The performance starts at 4 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $40.
Other venues
Sunday, Nov. 24: “The Amazing Bubble Man,” Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences around the world for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. He performs at 2 p.m. Sunday at Chemeketa Community College, 4000 Lancaster Dr. N.E., Building 6. Tickets start at $14.22 for children and $19.52 for adults.
Classes, workshops and lectures
*Thursday, Nov. 21: Salem Public Library’s main branch hosts a talk by Indigenous historian David Lewis, author of “Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley,” at 6 p.m. Free, first-come first-seated.
Friday, Nov. 22: Chemeketa Community College’s Planetarium hosts “The Sun, Our Living Star” Fridays at 7:30 p.m. All shows include a brief introduction that explores the night time sky over Salem during this season of the year. Tickets $5 for adults, $4 for children. Cash only, no ATM in the building. Chemeketa’s planetarium is located in Building 2, Room 171 on the Salem campus. Tickets sold starting 15 minutes before showtime, no late admissions. More information here.
Wednesday, Nov. 27-Dec. 18: It’s time to bring some tropical island sound this holiday season. Center 50+ hosts holiday music ukulele lessons Wednesdays through Dec. 18. The first class session costs $48 for residents and $57 for non-Salem residents, and the second session cost $72 for residents and $84.40 for non-Salem residents. Intermediate note reader classes run from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and intermediate strummer classes run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration for the class can be done at the Connection Center at Center 50+.
Markets and shopping
*Saturday, Nov. 23: Willamette Art Center’s annual Empty Bowls sale takes place at Cascade Hall at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. N.E., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sale features over 1,500 unique ceramic pieces — bowls, but also ceramic planters, dishes, vases, mugs, cups, luminaries, platters, pitchers, and other handmade pottery. Proceeds benefit Marion Polk Food Share and Willamette Art Center. The event includes live demonstrations of wheel throwing by volunteers from Willamette Art Center, wood turning by Willamette Valley Woodturners, and wood carving by Capitol Woodcarvers.
*Saturday, Nov. 23: Come get some holiday shopping and community time in at the Showbiz Salem Holiday Market on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The market includes gifts, crafts, specialty foods, local wineries, breweries and distilleries. Entry is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. The market is inside the Jackman Long Building at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, 2330 17th St. N.E. More information can be found online.
Every Saturday from Oct. 12-March 15 is the Indoor Winter Market at Wavra Farms. The farm’s greenhouses host the weekly marketplace, which has over 40 rotating vendors. Wavra Farms is located at 7882 Jordan St. S.E. Salem Reporter reported on the market’s opening last year.
Every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Salem Public Market at 1240 Rural Avenue S.E.
Art and museum exhibitions
Saturday, Nov. 23: See what local artists are up to in an exclusive look inside of Studios at The Mill, a group of nine artists who rent spaces in the Wool Warehouse. Studios at The Mill opens its doors to the public three times a year, so enjoy the new work of three studio members Katie Gilmour, Corrine Loomis Dietz and Mona Cook. The event is from 1-4 p.m. on the second floor of the Wool Warehouse at Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. S.E.
Check out what Salem art galleries and museums are showing in November here.
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.
