This week in Salem, learn about local Polk County history on a tour of Brunk Farmstead, watch two Cherry City Roller Derby games or attend a concert by the Salem Philharmonia Orchestra.
Here’s the lineup of Salem events for the week from Thursday, Dec. 12, to Wednesday, Dec. 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.
Holiday events
Friday, Dec. 13: Spend the night participating in downtown Salem’s third annual “jolliest bar crawl,” organized by Salem Main Street Association. The crawl starts at 6 p.m. and includes a chance to win a raffle and dress up for the holidays. The locations for the bar crawl are not published online yet, but the crawl will finish at 10:15 p.m. with a prize drawing and Santa mug giveaway. Entering the bar crawl costs $20. Information is available online.
*Friday, Dec. 13-14: Learn about some of Polk County’s local history at Brunk Farmstead’s two weekends of Christmas open houses. The Brunk house’s upstairs has been prepared for the public to view and enjoy on tours of the farmstead. There will be wassail, gingersnap cookies and other snacks for visitors. The open houses will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on each day. Brunk Farmstead is located at 5705 Hwy 22 W.
*Friday, Dec. 13-15, 20-22: Celebrate the holiday season at Powerland Heritage Park for the fifth year of Holiday Sparkles, a drive through experience honoring each of the park’s museums. Each year, the park transforms into a winter wonderland, with characters like Santa Claus and the Grinch for children to meet. The park is located at 3995 Brooklake Rd. N.E. in Brooks. Admission is free.
*Saturday, Dec. 14: Keizer’s annual holiday light parade returns with a theme of “hometown Christmas.” Marching bands from McNary, North Salem, South Salem and Jefferson high schools will perform in the parade. Along the parade there will be several places to get hot cocoa, cookies, tamales and other snacks. The parade starts at the corner of Northeast Lockhaven Drive and North River Road at 7 p.m. and finishes at North Glynbrook Street and River Road at 9 p.m. River Road will close at 6:15 p.m. Information is available on the Keizer Chamber website and on Facebook.

*Sunday, Dec. 15, 20-23: Walk-in visits with Santa at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel are open several days in December. Santa visits are free, with keepsake photos $15 each, and photos on your own device $5. For a full schedule of times, see the Facebook event here. The carousel is located in Riverfront Park, 101 Front St. N.E.
*Through Dec. 22: Start enjoying the holiday season with a festive snack and drink or fun carnival ride. The Holiday Village is 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.
Through Jan. 4: The Magic of Lights is at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, 2330 17th St. N.E. A mile-long stretch of the fairgrounds is transformed into a bright holiday wonderland until Jan. 4. The drive-thru holiday light experience will go from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 p.m. weekends. A standard vehicle pass costs $28. More information can be found online.
Live music, comedy, improv and other entertainment
Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. S.E. #150
Friday, Dec. 13: See one of Portland’s funniest people when Ben Harkins stops by Salem for a night of stand up comedy. Harkins recently won Portland’s Funniest Person contest and produced a public access soap opera called “Intrigue.” The show starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 21+ only.
Saturday, Dec. 14: Saint Syndrome and Nicole Onoscopi host a night of drag, music and comedy. There will be piano and vocal performances as they share stories throughout the night. The early show starts at 7 p.m., the late show starts at 9:30 p.m. and is a 21+ only show. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Grand Theatre, 187 High St. N.E.
Thursday, Dec. 12: Enjoy “A Night At Nakatomi Plaza: A Dramatic Reading Of Die Hard,” as local comedians read the classic for fans of the “ultimate Christmas movie.” Those in the audience play the important role of hostages in the Nakatomi Tower. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on show day. The show is 18+.
Saturday, Dec. 14: Jacob Westfall and Sarah Vitort of Fox & Bones will perform a live tribute to Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s Christmas album, “Once Upon a Christmas.” Doors open at 6 p.m. and showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 online, $20 on show day and kids under 12 get in free.
Wednesday, Dec. 18: Olympia-based country group The Olson Bros Band will take the stage. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on show day.
Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E.
Thursday, Dec. 12: Girl Named Tom’s “The Joy of Christmas” tour will make a stop in Salem. The sibling trio of Bekah, Joshua and Caleb Liechty made history as the only group to ever win NBC’s “The Voice.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $39.50.
Other venues
Saturday, Dec. 14: Cherry City Roller Derby’s “Wreck the Halls” double-header features two games for the price of one at the Madhouse, 1335 Madison St. N.E. Juniors skate at 4:30 p.m. and adults at 7 p.m. Tickets $12 in advance or $15 at the door, children 5 and under free.
Saturday, Dec. 14 & Sunday, Dec. 15: Salem Philharmonia Orchestra performs a concert filled with short classical compositions. Before the concert starts, there will be an instrument “petting zoo” at 1 p.m. for children to experiment with different orchestral instruments. Concerts start at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the East Salem Community Center, 1850 45th Ave. N.E. Tickets are $23 for ages 18-64 and $20 for students and ages 65+. Youth up to 17 get in free.
*Wednesday, Dec. 18: Enjoy a brown bag holiday concert with the Just For Fun singers at First Christian Church, 685 Marion St. N.E. People are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch to the concert. The concert is in the church’s sanctuary from 12-1 p.m. Admission is free.
Live theater, dance and cinema
Salem Cinema, 1127 Broadway St. N.E.
Sunday, Dec. 15: “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” starring Debbie Reynolds, will play at noon. Tickets are $9.
Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E.
Saturday, Dec. 14 & Sunday, Dec. 15: Students of American Ballet Academy will perform “A Children’s Nutcracker.” Set to Tchaikovsky’s extraordinary music, dancers will awe and entertain audience members with their beautiful movement and contagious energy. Doors open for the Saturday show at 6 p.m. and showtime is 7 p.m. On Sunday, doors open at 1:30 p.m. and the show starts at 2:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19.
Tuesday, Dec. 17: World Ballet Company presents “Nutcracker” with a multinational cast of 40 professional ballet dancers gathered to bring the most beloved holiday tradition to life. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $42.
Other venues
Thursday, Dec. 12-21: “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” will play at the Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave N.W. The holiday play focuses on the middle sister of “Pride and Prejudice,” as she seeks independence, an intellectual match and possibly even love. Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with shows at 2 p.m. most Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets start at $25.
Thursday, Dec. 12-14: Theatre 33 presents a 1940s radio show version of “A Christmas Carol” with live Foley sound effects. Shows Dec. 12, 13 and 15 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Shows in the Putnam Studio at the M. Lee Pelton Theatre on Willamette University’s campus, 900 State St. Tickets $20 general admission and $15 for students and seniors.
Friday, Dec. 13-Sunday, Dec. 15: Salem Aerial Dance Studio’s youth company presents its Winter Wonderland shows at Chemeketa Community College at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Immerse yourself in a magical winter experience filled with joy, excitement, connection, and feats of strength. The show takes place at the college’s theatre auditorium, 4000 Lancaster Dr. N.E., Building 6. Tickets start at $10.

Classes, workshops and lectures
Saturday, Dec. 14: Get an introduction to blacksmithing at a class with Polk County’s historical society. On the second Saturday of the month, a blacksmithing class is held at Brunk Farmstead, 5705 Hwy 22 W. Tools and safety glasses are provided, but it is recommended not to wear synthetic fabrics or open toed shoes. The class is from 12-3 p.m. Register online at Polk County Historical Society’s Facebook. The registration fee is $55.
Wednesday, 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+, 2615 Portland Rd. N.E.
Markets and shopping
*Friday, Dec. 13-Sunday, Dec. 15: Salem Holiday Market 2024 is back at the Oregon State Fair & Expo Center, 2330 17th St. N.E., on Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free holiday market includes more than 250 vendors with handmade, handcrafted and homegrown products. The event includes a raffle, Santa’s Village, kids activities, pet adoptions, the 6th Annual Gingerbread House Contest, the 5th Annual Tree Decorating Contest and more. Parking is $5 and more information is available online.
*Friday, Dec. 13-Sunday, Dec. 15, 20-22, 27-29: Three weekends in a row, the Salem Etsy Team is partnering with Salem Center Mall to host popup shops. A select number of the team’s vendors will be selling at each popup shop at the mall, 401 Center St. N.E., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
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
Check out what Salem art galleries and museums are showing in December 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.