The Latest Stories For You From Salem Reporter

Good morning, Salem.

It’s a good weekend to come downtown.

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Downtown’s all-volunteer holiday parade kicks off this evening at 5:30 p.m., and our guide below has everything you’ll need to enjoy it.

Expect street closures downtown and plan for a crowd. You’ll want to arrive early for the best seats. The route this year is longer, beginning at the Capitol and proceeding along Northeast Court Street.

A map of the 2025 holiday parade route. (SALEM MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION)

Street parking will be free in downtown Salem for Small Business Saturday tomorrow (and is always free on Sundays).

If you can’t make the parade, don’t worry – our photographer will be there to capture the scene.

Here’s some of today’s headlines. Head to our website anytime for the latest in Salem local news.

www.salemreporter.com

Salem holiday parade returns for fourth year with snowball fights, hot cocoa and Santa

Thousands will converge on Salem’s downtown streets this Friday for the fourth annual holiday parade, alongside Santa Claus and Buddy the Elf, a day before Small Business Saturday.

www.salemreporter.com

New Marion County program supports youth in reducing violence, gang involvement

A new program at the Marion County Juvenile Department is working to intervene with teenagers and preteens involved in gangs before they commit more serious crimes. It’s run by a…

www.salemreporter.com

5 places to see Santa, holiday lights and Christmas trees in Salem

Holiday festivities are in full swing starting this weekend in Salem, with lights already aglow and Santa Claus’ arrival expected.

www.salemreporter.com

Effort backed by Mayor Hoy to make homeless camp sweeps easier advances

Oregon law requires homeless camp removal be “objectively reasonable.” An initiative petition seeking to change that got a step closer to the November 2026 ballot.

Here’s some of today’s news. Catch our latest deadlines on our website here.

SEE LOCAL EVENTS: Our new events calendar lets you browse what’s happening in Salem – completely free. Want to submit an upcoming event? You can do that here.

TIP US TO NEWS: We welcome your tips about possible Salem stories – a community event, a local resident doing something extraordinary, a government action that needs investigating. Send your information, ideas or questions by email to our editor, Les Zaitz, at [email protected].

Our mailing address is: 494 State St., #410 • Salem, Oregon 97301

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Salem holiday parade returns for fourth year with snowball fights, hot cocoa and Santa

New Marion County program supports youth in reducing violence, gang involvement

5 places to see Santa, holiday lights and Christmas trees in Salem

Effort backed by Mayor Hoy to make homeless camp sweeps easier advances

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