What to do in Salem from July 24-30: Hoopla, Great Oregon Steam-Up, Willamette play
Each week, Salem Reporter highlights a selection of upcoming local events.
For a more complete list, browse our events calendar here. You can submit an upcoming event here.
Here’s a roundup for the week from Thursday, July 24, to Wednesday, July 30.
*Starred events are free to attend, although they may include ticketed components or a suggested donation.
Hoopla
*Thursday, July 24 – Sunday, July 27: Salem’s biggest basketball event returns for its 26th year. Hoopla, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, will fill the streets surrounding the Oregon State Capitol over the weekend. There will be smaller matches Thursday and Friday night before the main tournament Saturday and Sunday.
A full schedule of the events and match-ups is available online, along with a map. Spectators can attend for free. There will be plenty of booths and vendors providing snacks and information on local organizations, including one started by Hoopla’s host.
Salem Reporter spoke with Jason Unruh, who has hosted Hoopla for the last 25 years, about his plans for the future. He and others have launched a campaign for Hoopla National, an outdoor court complex and sport facility. Read more about that project and the history of Hoopla below.
Great Oregon Steam-Up
Saturday, July 26 – Sunday, July 27 & August 2-3: Voted “Best Annual Event” in the Willamette Valley, according to the event description, the Great Oregon Steam-Up will celebrate 55 years this weekend. Oregon’s historic trains will be on full display at the Powerland Heritage Park with activities and opportunities to learn about traditional and new machines.
The event will take place over the next two weekends and have lots of things for adults and children to enjoy. People can pan for gold, complete a firefighter challenge course and ride trolleys and trains. There will be a featured display about the Northwest’s logging equipment, including tractors and engines.
The Powerland Heritage Park is located at 3995 Brooklake Rd. N.E. in Brooks. Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for ages 13-17 and children 12 and under get in for free. There is also a $5 parking fee per vehicle. The Steam-Up will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday both weekends. More information is available on Facebook.
Free concert
*Thursday, July 24: Lay back in West Salem Park and listen to jazz and swing music Thursday night. The Gail Gage Jazz Band is performing as part of a free summer concert series run by the West Salem Lions Club. This is the 40th year the club has put on free concerts in West Salem Park.
The concert will have a concession stand with snacks for attendees, but people are welcome to bring their own food for picnics. Next Thursday, a bluegrass and folk band will perform at the park’s final summer concert. The park is located at 265 Rosemont Ave. N.W.
Movie in the park
*Friday, July 25: Cozy up with snacks and a blanket for a free screening of “Inside Out 2” at Riverfront Park. The sequel to Disney’s “Inside Out” follows a young girl and her emotions as she experiences the challenges of middle school, friendship and new feelings.
The movie showing is the second in a series of free movies in Riverfront Park’s Gerry Frank Amphitheater, hosted by the city of Salem. Read our story on the rest of this summer’s movies here. The movie will start when the sun sets Friday, around 8:45 p.m. The amphitheater is located at 230 Front St. S.E. More information is available on Facebook.
Summer night market
*Friday, July 25: The Salem Center Mall is hosting a night market filled with goods, snacks and music. The market will have over 40 vendors selling jewelry, clothing, flowers and more with live music performing throughout the night. There will also be cocktails and food options, including a taco truck and baked goods.
The market will take place on the bottom floor of the mall’s south building, which is on Northeast High Street between Northeast Chemeketa and Center streets. It will run from 4-8 p.m. More information is available on the mall’s Facebook page.
Play opening
Wednesday, July 30: A new play is hitting the stage next week at Willamette University. “Confabulous,” written by Susan Faust, follows two sisters facing the challenges of providing constant care for their mother with dementia. To help, they hire a “stoner kid” who mows the lawn. The comedy touches on sibling rivalry and how families change over time.
The play will show at Willamette’s M. Lee Pelton Theatre, which is close to the university’s parking lot on Southeast 12th Street. The play premieres Wednesday at 7 p.m., but will also show three more times in August. Ticket prices are flexible as they are donations to the theatre. The recommended price, or donation, is $18. Willamette University is located at 900 State St.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore joined Salem Reporter in 2024 and reports on a variety of topics including public safety, addiction, treatment and the criminal justice system. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
