Press Play Salem

Cherry Blossom Day at the Capitol
2026-03-21 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Vancouver) | Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St NE, Salem, 97301, United States
The third Saturday of March is Cherry Blossom Day at the Capitol. Celebrate Spring, the blossoming cherry trees in the Capitol Mall and the impact of the Japanese culture on our state. We will be celebrating with booths, activities and performances from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free and open to the public. Parking is free on Saturday.
A 2026 program of events will be made available at the beginning of March.

Spring Break Passport to Fun!
2026-03-23 - 2026-03-27 | Oregon State Capitol, 900 Court St NE, Salem, 97301, United States
Downtown venues have joined together to create “Spring Break Passport to Fun”, which offers activities for the family during spring break week. Oregon State Capitol, State Capitol State Park, Willamette Heritage Center, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, World Beat Gallery, Salem Art Association at Bush Bart Art Center, Salem Public Library, and Deepwood Museum have teamed up to offer families a fun and free, or discounted, way to fill the week off school with activities. A passport for download will be available starting March 1, 2026.
You can start and end your journey at any of the participating locations.

Weekly Drop-In Improv Comedy Class
2026-03-23 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-03-30 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-06 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-13 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-20 19:30 - 21:00 | Grand Ballroom, 187 High St NE, Salem, Oregon, 97301, United States
Date: Every Monday
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Price: $5 (first class free!) – Pay at doors
All experience levels welcome
15+‍
Take a break from real life to come play and let loose! Improv is all about teamwork, communication and, most importantly, FUN!‍
Whether you’re a casual fan or seasoned performer, this class is great for improvisers of all experience levels! Ages 15+ recommended. Classes are $5 each and your first class is FREE!

True North
2026-03-25 19:30 - 21:00 | Chemeketa Auditorium, 4000 Lancaster Dr NE, BLDG 6, Salem, OR, 97305, United States
Wonder Wednesday: True North

Join award winning Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel as they present their True North Duo a blend of folk and country inspired music.

Chemeketa Concerts is pleased to present True North, an American Roots duo whose music is as intimate as it is unforgettable.
With passionate harmonies, hand-built instruments, and memorable songs, Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel create a sound that move straight from the stage to the heart. True North’s performances are marked by Dan’s refined musicianship and Kristen’s emotionally rich voice—an undeniable combination that has captivated audiences across the country.
The duo has earned top honors on some of the nation’s most respected stages, including the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, and MerleFest. In 2021, Kristen Grainger was recognized by The Bluegrass Situation—alongside Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile—as one of the “Women Who Wrote Our 2020 Soundtrack,” underscoring the depth and relevance of her songwriting.
Based in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, True North tours nationally and internationally, building a devoted following along the way. Three of their albums have reached #1 on the folk radio charts, and their newest release, Time and Materials, is already resonating with listeners nationwide.
This is a rare opportunity to experience two master storytellers at the height of their craft—authentic, heartfelt, and deeply human. Learn more at www.truenorthband.com.

The College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution committed to an environment free of discrimination and harassment. Questions regarding sexual harassment, discrimination and misconduct policies and filing a complaint contact the Title IX coordinator at 503.584.7323. For questions about equal employment opportunity and/or affirmative action, contact 503.399.2537. To request this publication in an alternative format, please call 503.399.5192. For disability related accommodation, please contact Student Accessibility Services at least two weeks prior to the event at 503.399.5192 (TTY/voice) or studentaccess@chemeketa.edu.
Box office assistance can be reached at 503-399-6980 or auditorium@chemeketa.edu.

Laurie Kilmartin
2026-03-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre, 187 High St NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Laurie Kilmartin is stand up comedian and an Emmy-nominated, WGA award-winning comedy writer. She was a staff writer for all 11 years of CONAN on TBS, and has performed standup on CONAN, Late Late Show w/James Corden, and Comedy Central. She was a Top 10 finalist on season 9 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and has been a guest on Marc Maron’s WTF 3 times. She is the author of Dead People Suck, a comedic memoir about grief, and Shitty Mom, a NY Times bestselling comedy about parenting. Her special “45 Jokes About My Dead Dad” was named among Vulture ‘s Top Ten Comedy Specials of 2016. In 2022, she was a guest in the “Comedy” episode of Hillary Clinton’s 2022 Apple TV series “Gutsy.” Her new special “Cis Woke Grief Slut,” taped at Hollywood’s El Portal Theater is available across streaming platforms.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Laurie became interested in trying standup after seeing one too many male comics talk about women. even in San Francisco, the early 90s lineups were stacked with men lazily stereotyping approximately half the people in the audience. Laurie distinctly remembers sitting through a comedy showcase thinking, “I don’t like shopping, and I don’t go to the bathroom in pairs.” Her need to try standup came from an intense desire to tell her own story, instead of hearing it being told to her by a dude.
After a successful first time onstage, Laurie moved back in with her parents, bought a Chevy Blazer and started driving to gigs all over the West. By the time she donated the Blazer to KCRW, there were over 500,000 miles on the odometer. She has worked one nighters, comedy clubs, casinos and wars. In fact, she performed for troops in both Iraq wars, including a New Year’s Eve show at one of Saddam Hussein’s occupied palaces. After ten years of basing herself in NorCal, she relocated to New York City in 1999. In 2003, she added TV writing to her resume, with her first staff job on Comedy Central’s “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.” She moved onto “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and tried her hand at daytime on “The Bonnie Hunt Show” before being hired as a monologue writer on “CONAN” for its entire 11 year run on TBS.
In 2006, she became a mom, and in 2009, a single mom. In 2014, she famously (or infamously) live-tweeted jokes her father’s hospice passing from lung cancer, and in 2020, she did the same after her mother was hospitalized with COVID. From these literal cremated ashes came her comedy special and second book (“45 Jokes About My Dead Dad” and Dead People Suck), and the 3rd titular element of her 2024 comedy special, “Cis Woke Grief Slut.”
Friday, March 27th, 2026 in The Grand Ballroom
Doors at 7:00 PM | Show at 8:00 PM
$25 General Admission | $35 VIP Front Row + Fees
General Admission or VIP | 21+
Click Here To Request ADA Seating

Russ Taff & Steve Taylor
2026-03-28 19:30 - 21:00 | Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winners Russ Taff and Steve Taylor will appear in one electrifying night together on the The Almost Farewell Tour. Taff will be both supported and backed on all dates by his longtime friend and collaborator and his Some Band.

Parabola: A Tribute to Tool
2026-03-28 20:00 - 22:00 | Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre, 187 High St NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Saturday, March 28 | Doors at 7:00 | Show at 8:00 | all ages | $15 presale | $20 day of show
Straight out of PDX, Parabola delivers an intense tribute to Tool with precision and fire. Crushing riffs, hypnotic vocals, and spiraling energy colliding for a live experience that feels every bit as powerful as the real thing.
https://www.facebook.com/ParabolaToolTribute

Alfred Robles: Vatos With Gatos
2026-04-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
After getting kicked out of the police academy, Alfred Robles rose to become one of the hottest young comedians in the country. Two years into his comedy career, Alfred was featured in the hit show “Loco Comedy Jam” and the Latino Laugh Festival. He was the only comedian to be featured on all 3 seasons of Stand Up Revolution on Comedy Central. Alfred is currently on a world wide tour with Gabriel Iglesias, and was one of the first comedians to perform at Dodger Stadium alongside Gabriel Iglesias. Alfred was also featured on “Mr. Iglesias” on Netflix, “Entre Nos” on HBO, and is currently working on his hour special.

Gong Meditation
2026-04-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Resonance Yoga Collective Studio, 129 Commercial St NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Join our special guest, Wayne Marto of Beneficial Sound, on a transformative journey of healing and deep relaxation. Soak every cell of the body in therapeutic sound and vibration.
Acoustically the gong elevates us, creating a deep meditative state that restores harmony and vitality to the mind, body, and soul. The pure sound waves of this music will leave you feeling tuned, refreshed, and connected with your intuitive personal power.

$30 Per Yogi | $24 for Resonance Members

Register for Gong Meditation

What to expect:
The 90 minute event includes a brief discussion on the healing attribute of Planet Gongs, a 60 minute Gong Meditation.
What to bring:
Wear comfortable clothes. Bring a yoga mat if you have one, but our studio does have a few extras. Bring anything cozy that supports you; blanket, eye mask, or pillow. Our studio also has blankets, blocks, and bolsters for your use.
Learn more:
www.beneficialsound.org

First Tuesday Music & Poetry Open Mic
2026-04-07 19:00 - 22:00 | Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre, 187 High St NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Salem’s Historic Grand is pleased to invite performers of all varieties to take the ballroom stage the first Tuesday of every month! Musicians, bands, poets, and all other performers are encouraged to sign up and share your talent! Hosted by Matador Hamilton and Danny Shaw of Giantess.
Doors at 6:30, show 7pm-10pm. No admission, all ages. Sign ups open with doors at 6:30.
If your band would like to perform, please reach out to Matador Hamilton via Facebook or @matadormakesmusic on Instagram and let him know which backline gear your band will need.

Black Violin: Full Circle Tour 2026
2026-04-07 19:30 - 21:00
Step into Black Violin’s Full Circle Tour, where GRAMMY-nominated duo Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus redefine the possibilities of music by merging classical depth with hip-hop’s pulse. This tour captures the essence of returning to where it all began—transformed and reimagined. Each powerful performance invites audiences to reflect on their own journeys, discovering that even as we evolve, we’re often drawn back to our roots with renewed purpose.
From high school orchestra classmates to groundbreaking artists, Black Violin’s path reflects resilience, creativity, and the courage to challenge expectations. With their Black Violin Foundation reaching over 100,000 students each year, they’re building a legacy that transcends the stage, inspiring a new generation to dream boldly. Join them for an unforgettable night that celebrates growth, music, and the beauty of coming full circle.
VIP Available

Soul + R&B Yoga
2026-04-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Resonance Yoga Collective Studio, 129 Commercial St NE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Join Shirley Brown for a musically soulful and joyful 75 min yoga/mindful movement practice.
Practice is orchestrated with rhythmic and soulful tunes to get you moving and maybe even singing. Together we will celebrate the joy of Soul and R&B music as we flow. If you love R&B / Soul music, don’t miss these Friday nights.

$20 per yogi | $16 for Resonance members (use your coupon code)

Ravel & Saint-Saëns
2026-04-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Smith Auditorium, 900 State St, Salem, 97301, United States
Oregon Symphony in Salem presents
Ravel & Saint-Saëns
A bracing whack from the percussionist’s “slap stick” launches Ravel’s Concerto on an effervescent romp, evoking the Harlem jazz clubs he visited with Gershwin. Riffs from the brasses and piano fireworks make for a breathless dash to the finish. Ravel’s lush Daphnis et Chloé opens with a radiant sunrise—golden strings, shimmering harps, bird calls—and ends with an orgiastic paean to love.

Room of Forgotten Souls
2026-04-10 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-11 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-12 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-16 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-17 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-18 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-18 19:30 - 21:00, 2026-04-19 14:00 - 15:30 and 1 more date | Pelton Theatre at Willamette University, 900 State St, Salem, 97301, United States
Room of Forgotten Souls
an original, ensemble-devised performance
In 2004, a tour group discovered a locked room in the Oregon State Hospital crematorium, filled with thousands of decaying copper canisters holding the remains of over 4,000 former patients. Abandoned or forgotten, these individuals sparked a movement to honor the lost. Inspired by this haunting discovery, the Willamette University Theatre ensemble will create Room of Forgotten Souls—an original, ensemble-devised performance exploring memory, loss, mental health, and recognition.

"A New Moon Ball" A Bridgerton Themed Ball
2026-04-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St, Salem, 97301, United States
Get ready to transport back in time to the elegant world of Bridgerton at A New Moon Ball – it’s going to be a night to remember!

Welcome to “A New Moon Ball” A Bridgerton Themed Ball! Join us for an enchanting evening filled with elegance and grandeur at the Willamette Heritage Center. Immerse yourself in the Regency era with lavish decorations, period costumes, and delightful music. Indulge in a night of dancing, socializing, and revelry reminiscent of the hit series Bridgerton. Don your finest attire and prepare to be swept away in a world of romance and charm. Don’t miss out on this magical event!
There will be VIP dinner provided at 4pm. Contact seller at pixiedesignseventplanning@gmail.com for more details or to reserve your spot for a VIP dinner

Tommy Emmanuel CGP – Living In The Light Tour
2026-04-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
Hailed as “one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world” by NPR’s World Cafe, Tommy Emmanuel got his start at the age of six, when he first began touring his native Australia with his family’s band. As a teenager, he earned a reputation as a highly sought after sideman and session player, and by his early twenties, Emmanuel was playing on chart-topping hits and performing with acts like Air Supply and Men at Work. Inspired in part by his hero, Chet Atkins (who would later become a friend, mentor, and collaborator), Emmanuel stepped out on his own as a solo artist in 1979, releasing the first in a string of acclaimed instrumental albums that would make him an unlikely celebrity in his home country and beyond. In the decades that followed, he would go on to headline everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall; tour with luminaries like Eric Clapton and John Denver; win a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement; perform for a televised audience of more than two billion at the Sydney Olympics; and collaborate with a who’s who of fellow guitar greats, including Les Paul, Mark Knopfler, Joe Walsh, Richard Thompson, Jason Isbell, and Billy Strings.
Recorded in just four days, Emmanuel’s latest album, Living In The Light, stands as the most daring—and most rewarding—collection in the globetrotting fingerpicker’s remarkable catalog, fusing his pop, jazz, classical, and roots influences into a virtuosic masterwork as exhilarating as it is intimate.

Family Clay Sunday
2026-04-19 11:00 - 15:00
Bring the whole family for some quality together time and learn simple hand-built projects that are fun for everyone and create magical memories for your family.
Family Clay Sunday is a drop-in program. No registration required
Family Clay Sundays are back. We now offer an “early bird” hour for families that prefer a quieter setting and simpler projects.
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. for early birds
12 – 3 p.m. Family Clay Sunday drop-in sessions
Cost
$5 per artist to create a new project on the first Sunday of the month.
$5 for glazing day on the third Sunday of the Month. We will offer bisque pieces to purchase at $5 each for those who didn’t attend the first Sunday session so everyone can enjoy glaze day.
We’re so glad that our little studio is able to offer this activity to our community.
Facilitated by Kelly Matney supported by Doug Dacar.
Dates & Projects:
February 1 & 15:

Early birds: Thumb vase
Drop in: Ice cream bowls

March 1 & 15:

Early Birds: Textured hand prints
Drop-in: Chicken plates

April 19:

Catch-up glaze day

May 3 & 17:

Early birds: Name frames
Drop-in: Coil name plaques’

June 7 and 21:

Early birds: Familer faces
Drop-in: Moon Face

Silent Film Series: Battleship Potemkin (1923)
2026-04-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE, Salem, OR, 97301, United States
The Elsinore Theatre Silent Film Series presents Battleship Potemkin (1923).
In the midst of the Russian Revolution of 1905, the crew of the battleship Potemkin mutiny against the brutal, tyrannical regime of the vessel’s officers. The resulting street demonstration in Odessa brings on a police massacre. 1h 6m (not rated)
With live organ accompaniment by Rick Parks on the Mighty Wurlitzer.
