Attendees enjoy a free concert at the Oregon Capitol. After a two-year Covid hiatus, the event returns to Salem July 30 (Courtesy/Oregon State Capitol Foundation)

After the worst of this week’s heat wave, Salemites can unwind Saturday with a free concert.

Concerts at the Capitol will return July 30 with a performance by the Salem Philharmonia Orchestra and Oregon-born singer and songwriter Slater Smith. 

It will mark the first time the Oregon State Capitol Foundation-sponsored program returns since 2019 after the pandemic shut the summer shows down in 2020 and 2021. 

This year’s event celebrates the Oregon Parks centennial. 

The orchestra will be led by guest conductor Dr. Mark Stanek–an associate professor of music at Corban University. The program will include performances of “The Magnificent Seven,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Star Wars Spic, Suite II.”

“Oregon, My Oregon” is also scheduled as part of Smith’s tribute to his home state. Smith has also compiled a Spotify playlist of Oregon-specific songs that can be listened to before the concert. 

The concert will start at 11 a.m. and is free of charge. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic lunch to spread out on the grass in the Capitol Mall area of State Capitol State Park. 

More information available here.

-Caitlyn May

Salem Reporter