What to do in Salem from Aug. 28-Sept. 3: Punx in the Park, veteran resource fair
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, Aug. 28, to Wednesday, Sept. 3.
*Starred events are free to attend, although they may include ticketed components or a suggested donation.
Punx in the Park
*Sunday, Aug. 31: Salem’s all-ages punk rock festival and resource fair is back, and at Riverfront Park’s amphitheater for the first time. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., youth ages 11-18 can get free resources, food, clothes, meet mentors and catch live shows with five bands. Cherriots offers free rides to and from the event. The park is at 230 Front St. S.E.
Veteran Stand Down
*Wednesday, Sept. 3: A free health and wellness fair for veterans and active servicemembers will come to the Salem YMCA, 685 Court St. N.E., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event, organized by Serving Our Veterans at Home, includes free lunch, haircuts, a resume workshop, job fair and referrals for legal help, substance abuse counseling and more. Cherriots offers free rides to the event, which is a block from the downtown bus station. Learn more here.
Free haircuts and clothes
*Saturday, Aug. 30: Latinos Unidos Siempre is putting on a free back to school haircut event for students. Fresh cuts for a fresh start are available at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 1998 Lansing Ave. N.E., from 12-5 p.m.
*Wednesday, Sept. 3: Get free clothes for kids up to size 6T at a clothing swap hosted at the Salem Public Library’s main branch. Come from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to drop off clothes or take what you need home. Donations for the swap will be accepted starting at 10 a.m. If you bring more than two bags, please sort them by size. The swap will be held in the Anderson Rooms, A & B. The library is at 585 Liberty St. S.E.
Infinity Room garage sale
Saturday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Aug. 31: From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. both days, you can buy AV equipment, kitchen and bar supplies and more from Infinity Room. The Salem event venue closed in June and is now selling items to pay off debt. The sale is at the venue, 210 Liberty St. S.E.
Movie magic
*Friday, Aug. 29: Catch the reimagined tale of Oz as “Wicked” screens at the Gerry Frank Amphitheater in Riverfront Park, 230 Front St. S.E. The movie will begin around 8 p.m. It’s the final in a series of free city park summer screenings. Bring a blanket or low-backed chair.
Friday, Aug. 29-Thursday, Sept. 4: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of cinema’s most terrifying great white shark as Salem Cinema screens thriller Jaws. Shows will be at 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with additional screenings next week. Tickets are $11. The theater is at 1127 Broadway St. N.E.
Oregon State Fair
Through Monday, Sept. 1: The Oregon State Fair continues through Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. weeknights and 11 p.m. over the weekend. Carnival rides open daily at 11 a.m.
Fairgoers can watch farm animal demonstrations, look at award-winning local art and try their hand at a variety of games. This year brings old and new musicians to Salem, and 30 new food options spread out throughout the fairgrounds.
Concerts take place every night of the fair at 7 p.m. except closing day. Read about the fair’s musical lineup on its website.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12, $3 for ages 65 and up and kids ages 5 and under get in free. A pass for all 11 days is $25. Tickets can be purchased online. The fairgrounds are located at 2330 17th St. N.E.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers education, economic development and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for over a decade and is a past president of Oregon's Society of Professional Journalists chapter. Outside of work, you can often find her gardening or with her nose buried in a book.
