The Playlist — Things to do Oct 23-26, 2025

by ,

A Note from the Instigator....

Hello, Friends! Prepare yourself, The Playlist this week is a short novel. For all those who say nothing is happening in Salem, feel free to show them this. Have fun out there!

— Carlee, The Instigator

PS: Support arts & culture in Salem. Advertise in our next magazine — Let's Talk!

Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums will play while Eric Chandler performs the Sword Dance to kick off the Samhain Festival on Oct 25. Photo by John DeJarnett. Scroll down for more details.

THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Salem Poetry Project hosts featured speaker Carmen Rojas Larrazábal, a poet, cultural coordinator, anthologist and editor from Venezuela. She holds specializations in English literature, Chicano studies, and Afro-American Literature, 7 p.m. Oct 23 at Bush Barn Art Center + Annex, 600 Mission St SE. The Infamous Open Mic will take place following the featured reader.

Karaoke Thursday at Beehive Station isn’t done for the year just yet! Sing your heart out tonight from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 1510 Fabry Road SE

Take in a Spooky Night at the Reed for free ghost tours, tea leaf readings, late night shopping and more, 6 to 9 p.m. Oct 23 at The Reed Opera House in downtown Salem.

Salem Free Clinics is hosting Michael Jr., a Comedy Fundraiser, 7 p.m. October 23 at Salem Alliance Church. All proceeds and donations of this event will go towards Salem Free Clinics. Click here for tickets.

Spirit Night: Benriach — Raise a glass to “Scotchtober” with a guided tasting of Benriach led by Rebecca Gardiner. Enjoy a specialty cocktail, a paired dinner, and pours of Smoky 10, Original 12, Smoky 12, and the rare 30-year expression. Guests must be 21+. 6 p.m. Oct 23 at The Cozy Taberna. Tickets required, $165. Click here for tickets.

⭐ FEATURED PICKS

Studio Vino Wine Hub is celebrating its Grand (Re) Opening 1 to 6 p.m. Oct 25 and 26 at it’s new location: 142 High St SE. Stop by for tastes, games, and prizes. Learn more about this new Salem nonprofit in our Press Play feature story.

Welcome the “darker half” of the year…Celtic style. The Samhain Celtic New Year Festival returns Saturday, October 25, to fill the Spinning Room at the Willamette Heritage Center with the rhythm of pipes and the spirit of an ancient Gaelic celebration. This year’s featured band, Na Rósaí Trio, will take to the stage at 11 a.m. But festivities kick off at 10 a.m. with a walkthrough by Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums followed by the Sword Dance. The festival is free this year so pop-in between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to see what it’s all about. Learn more in our Press Play feature story here.

Pop-Up Art? Yes please. See Erik Satie's Apartment and other miraculous occurrences, featuring paintings by Gary Westford, 5-8 pm Oct. 24 and 1-5 pm Oct. 25 and 26 at 331 State St.

Elsinore Silent Film Series presents Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror, a silent German Expressionist film directed by F.W. Murnau starring Max Schreck as Count Orlok, a vampire who preys on the wife (Greta Schridder) of his estate agent (Gustav Con Wangenheim) and brings the plague to their town. With live organ accompaniment by Rick Parks on the Mighty Wurlitzer. 7 p.m. Oct 25 at Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE. Tickets are $5. Click here for tickets. 

Salem Cinema hosts a Reel Change for our Community Benefit Screening of cult classic fairytale adventure The Princess Bride supporting Center Stage Theatrics. From swashbuckling duels to rodents of unusual size, the beloved story of Westley and Buttercup remains as witty and enchanting as ever. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit’s mission to provide youth with theatrical training and performance opportunities. 6:30 p.m. Oct 26 at Salem Cinema. Click here for tickets.

🤝 COMMUNITY

LAST CHANCE

Pentacle Theatre presents A Comedy of Tenors — One hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, three girlfriends, and a soccer stadium filled with screaming fans. What could possibly go wrong? It’s 1930s Paris and the stage is set for the concert of the century – as long as producer Henry Saunders can keep Italian superstar Tito Merelli and his hot-blooded wife, Maira, from causing runaway chaos. Prepare for an uproarious ride, full of mistaken identities, bedroom hijinks, and madcap delight. When: 7:30 p.m. Oct 16-18, 23-25, and 2 p.m. Oct 18 at Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave NW. Tickets start at $20. Click here for tickets.  |  Click here for our Press Play feature story. 

Northwest Bagels is now open at 190 High St SE. Pop in for their boiled & baked daily goodness to support a new business in downtown Salem

Noira welcomes you to a Grand Opening celebration 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 24 at 285 Liberty Street NE Suite 135 where there will be complimentary bubbles and small bites, plus Polaroid portraits. 

Friday is Swing Night with Ginger & The Tonics. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a beginner friendly swing-dance lesson by Mz Jitterbug from 7 to 8 p.m. The band plays from 8 to 10 p.m. Children welcome up to 9 p.m. Oct 24 at The Bad Space, 2572 19th St SE.  $20 cover. 

See Hocus Pocus on the big screen, 7 p.m. Oct 24 at Elsinore Theatre. Click here for tickets. 

Best Coast Bagels is popping up at Minto Island Growers from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Oct 25.

2025’s vintage of Word and Wine features creative non-fiction and a blend of poetry. Three excellent writers will present their work, in the Riesling Room. This is an opportunity to have wine, maybe a bite and hear essays from Simmons Buntin, the poetry Ingrid Wendt, and the bi-lingual poetry of Juan Cervantes. 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 25, at Chemeketa Cellars Tasting Room, 215 Doaks Ferry Rd NW

Halloween-ish Stuff

This, That and The other (mostly for adults, but not all)

On October 24, the Easy Otter is hosting its (now) annual Simpson’s Day event featuring a day of watching Treehouse of Horrors, drinking Duff Beer, and eating Krusty Burgers. There will be a variety of Simpsons-themed food on the menu and costumes (such as your finest Simpsons attire) are encouraged.  

Costume up and skate. Traveling Wheelz hosts a Halloween Costume skate night, 7:30 to 10 p.m. October 24 at The Mad House, 1335 Madison St NE. Learn more at travelingwheelz.com.

Celebrate Halloween with the Frightfully Fun 1K/3K Run/Walk, 9 a.m. Oct 25, at Riverfront Park, 200 Water St NE. Dressing up is always encouraged, strollers and dogs on a leash are welcome. Put your costumes to the test. $5 per participant.

Imagine a world where the villains have won! Experience spine-tingling, scary fun at a free Haunted House featuring twisted tales created by members of the library's Teen Advisory Board. Scare levels are suitable for elementary-aged children, but anyone can visit - if they dare. Visitors get a treat! 1-3 p.m. Saturday, October 25 in Anderson Rooms A&B, Plaza Level | Salem Main Library, 585 Liberty St SE. Free. Drop-in.

Coria Estates is hosting a Pumpkin Paint & Sip. This family-friendly event runs from 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct 25. Reserve your spot here.

Thrill the World returns…and you can watch Salem’s zombies perform at 3 p.m. SHARP Saturday, Oct 25 at For Tomorrow We Die Brewing Co, 2315 25th St SE. All ages are welcome. 

The Selfie Stop is hosting its 4th annual Halloween Vendor Bash, 12 to 6 p.m. Oct 25 at 2051 State St where you will find a variety of vendors, and trick-or-treating for kids from 4 to 6 p.m. 

Mykie’s Bar presents A Shrek Swamp Saturday starting at 10 p.m. Oct 25 and featuring DJ Pahnj, plus Skrek-themed costumes, drink specials, ogre approved eats and more. 

Howl-O-Ween at the Winery is a costume paw-ty for you and your pup. There will be a pet costume parade, costume content, people and pet photography, snacks, treats, tarot card readings and more creating an afternoon of fun for the whole family (two- and four-legged alike.)2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 25, at Cristom Vineyards, 6905 Spring Valley Road NW. Tickets are $10. Click here for tickets.

Bowser’s Boo Bash is a costumed, dog-friendly soirée to benefit the Oregon Humane Society, complete with fanciful feasts, peculiar potions, and tales of animal triumph. Enjoy live and silent auctions, contests for pups and people, a pet communicator, gourmet s’mores, photo booth, raffles, and more. 5:30 p.m. Oct 25 at Zenith Vineyard. $100. Click here for tickets. (canine companion passes available.)

4th Annual Masquerade Ball — Mystery meets elegance at this costumed evening of music, dancing, and surprises. With live blues from Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys, prizes for best costumes, and raffles throughout the night, the ballroom fills with festive energy. Masks are encouraged, spirits are flowing, and the dance floor is waiting. 6 to 11 p.m. Oct 25 at the Historic Reed Opera House Ballroom, 189 Liberty St NE. Ages 21+. Click here for tickets.

Market for the Strange — Born from Salem’s underground art scene, Market for the Strange has grown into a roaming celebration of all things weird and wonderful. This themed market showcases gothic art, curious crafts, and offbeat performances. Visitors can shop from makers who thrive on the unconventional, join costumed crowds, and soak in an atmosphere where “weird is welcome.” It’s part market, part community, and entirely Salem. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct 26 at Salem Convention Center. https://www.marketforthestrange.com/

For Kids & Families

Powerland Halloween: A Wizard’s Challenge — Step into a kid-friendly Halloween adventure where families become the heroes of a magical quest. Ride a real historic trolley, learn spells, and help gently wake the dragon, all while exploring a whimsical world filled with steam engines, skeleton hunts, and make-believe. Designed to delight, never to frighten. Oct 25-26 at Powerland Heritage Park, 3995 Brooklake Rd NE. Click here for tickets.

Salem’s Riverfront Carousel hosts the Scarousel Bash, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct 25, featuring a spooky photo booth and take home Halloween activity pages. Upgrade your visit for $10 and get a craft activity, three carousel rides, popcorn and a goodie bag. salemcarousel.org

Halloween Dance Concert — Premiere Academy of Performing Arts annual Halloween show is an experience that embodies the spooky season through dance. With performances in contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. The first half of the show features short Halloween themed dances performed by a variety of levels and age groups. The second half is an original story that is sure to give you goosebumps and take you on an eerie journey. 7 p.m. Oct 24 and 6 p.m. Oct 25 at Chemeketa Community College Auditorium, 400 Lancaster Dr NE, Building 6. Click here for tickets.

Halloween Party & Costume Contest — Kids and dogs are welcome at this family-inclusive party where there will be prizes for adults, kids and pet costumes, plus food and drink specials. The fun begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct 25 at Rogue’s Salem Public House, 555 9th St NE

Gilbert House Children's Museum has Halloween Re-Engineered! Dive into the Spooky Square, where you can participate in Halloween-themed activities and crafts. Experience a one-of-a-kind trick-or-treating journey and marvel at the amazing handmade Gizmos that will hand you candy along Trick or Treat lane. Admission is $10 per person (each ticket comes with a free slice of pizza). There will be music and a photobooth. Dress up in your favorite costumes and celebrate Halloween. The fun takes place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. October 26 at Gilbert House Children's Museum, 116 Marion St NE. Click here for tickets.

Trick or Treating….

Take in a spooktacular night of free family fun at the annual Trunk & Treat at Salem Tennis & Swim Club, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 24, at 1225 22nd St SE. 

Downtown Salem Trick or Treat takes place 12 to 5 p.m. October 25. Costume up the kids and then stroll the streets of downtown. Look for the Halloween flyer in store windows to know where to stop. A variety of businesses are participating in the festivities including…

  • Salem Center, where you will also find a Scavenger Hunt. Pick up a flyer outside Kohl’s and search for hidden Halloween creatures around the mall as you collect your candy.
  • Plus, The Forge is hosting Little Ghols Day Out, 12 to 5 p.m. Oct 25. Tenants throughout the building will be handing out candy and maybe a few surprises. Enter through the main doors on Liberty & Chemeketa, then pop in to the second floor.

The Burnout and Up N Smoke present Truck or Treat 6 to 8 p.m. Oct 25 at 1487 Broadway St NE, plus there will be a spooky October market from 4 to 8 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.

Salem Community Markets is hosting Trick or Treating, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct 25

Patriot Hauling & Junk Removal are hosting a Truck or Treat benefit for Punx with Purpose, 12 to 4 p.m. October 25 in the parking lot of the old Cinebarre on Marion St. There will be candy, food, and drinks at this free all ages event. 

Trunk or treat with the Oregon State Fair and Expo team at Scare at the Fair at the Fairgrounds, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct 25. Plus, vote for the best-decorated car. Elaborate costumes encouraged.

There’s a Trunk or Treat happening 12 to 3 p.m. Oct 26 at On Any Sundae.

Harvest

Fall Fest at Fordyce Farm features a variety of (free and paid) seasonal activities from a pumpkin patch to a hay fort to a corn maze. Thursday nights are Family Night in the Corn Maze, a spooky experience sans jump scares for $5.50 per person. Friday and Saturday nights, the Corn Maze gets haunted and monsters may lurk behind any stalk from 7 to 9:30 p.m. $16 per person (not for little kids). Some events are weather permitting. 9 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Fordyce Farm, 7023 Sunnyview Road NE. Click here for more info.

Open rain or shine, E.Z. Orchard's Harvestfest boasts fun for all. With hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, a petting zoo, cider and donuts daily, plus live music and horse rides on weekends, you would be hard-pressed not to find something interesting to do. Harvest is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 5504 Hazel Green Rd NE. Cost to participate starts at $5 during the week and $12 on weekends. Learn more here.

Pet a Donkey, Pick a Pumpkin — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays in October at Fruitland Creek Farms, 6000 Sunnyview Road NE. Snuggle with the miniature donkeys. Meet the micro cows. Say Hi to the baby Highlands. Take part in farm games, activities and more. $30 for a family of up to 4 (just $5 each additional person). $10 for individuals (pumpkin included) Every family takes home a FREE carving pumpkin.

Haunts

Mill Creek Haunted Prison

Tormented Illusion brings you a nightmare to remember with the Mill Creek Haunted Prison. This year, your ticket grants you access to two terrifying haunted houses over three floors: the legendary Haunted Prison and the all-new Phobias Haunt. Check it out this weekend, 7 to 10 p.m. Oct 10; 6 to 10 p.m. Oct 11, 6 to 9 p.m. Oct 12, at 5465 Turner Road SE. Tickets start at $32. Upgrades available. Click here for tickets.

Nightmare Factory

Nightmare Factory is Oregon’s oldest running haunted house. This wheelchair accessible amaze winds through 15,000 square feet of basement in the boys dormitory at Oregon School for the Deaf that has been transformed into the ultimate combination of haunted attractions. Thrills await. 7 to 11 p.m. Oct 10-11 at Nightmare Factory, 999 Locust St NE. Tickets start at $20. Click here for tickets.

Scare at the Fair

Fright Planet Scare at the Fair brings you four haunt experiences with one ticket. Brave the industrial grime Distorted, the creepiness of Höbart’s Doll Factory, the eerie clowns of The Painted Ones, and the evils that lurks in the dark of Blackout. Get your scare on 7 to 10 p.m. Oct 10-12 at Oregon State Fairgrounds & Expo Center, 2330 17th St NE Cost: Varies. Cheaper in advance. $10 parking per vehicle. Learn more and get tickets at https://frightplanet.fearticket.com/ 

And a different kind of Haunt…

Extreme Velocity presents The Lost Forest Zombie Shoot, a haunted apocalypse survival walk in 7 acres of zombie-infested dark forest, where you are armed with glowing BBs and a mission to escape. The 30-minute experience isn’t a haunted house; it’s an interactive experience of survival. Fridays and Saturdays in October at Extreme Velocity, 3046 Portland Road NE. $25 in advance; $30 day of. Click here for tickets.

This weekend at Salem Cinema...

🎶 Live Music

Irish Trad Music Session — Listen, dance, enjoy music as it is traditionally played in Irish pubs, 7 to 9 p.m. Oct 17 at Venti's Cafe, 325 Court St NE

Melissa Terrall in Concert — Enjoy classical music by Mexican composers played on the Bush House square grand piano from the late 1800s. Melissa Terrall is a Salem-based award-winning Fulbright recipient who studied Mexican composers in Mexico City and now is sharing her talents with our community, 2 to 3 p.m. Oct 26 at Bush House Museum. Limited tickets available. Click here for tickets.

Gabriel Cox Band and The Junebugs — Two powerhouse acts come together for one unforgettable night of music. Gabriel Cox Band brings a high-energy blend of rock, blues, and soul that’s as gritty as it is groovy. The Junebugs light up the stage with their unique mix of folk-pop charm, Americana storytelling, and a touch of rock & roll swagger. 7 p.m. Oct 24 in the Grand Theatre Ballroom. Click here for tickets.

RiverCity Rock Star Academy is hosting its monthly Open Mic on October 24 this month. The fun takes place at 2769 19th St SE. All ages welcome

And you can also check out the Halloween Preview Show, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct 26 on the RiverCity Rock Star Academy – Garage Stage, 2769 19th St SE 🎭 Costumes encouraged! 🎶 Friends & family welcome

Live Music: Magdalena Quintana — 6 to 8 p.m. October 24 at Chemeketa Cellars Tasting Room, 215 Doaks Ferry Rd NW | chemeketacellars.com

Executive Groove — Blues/Jazz, 8 p.m. Oct 25 at The Half Penny Public House

Leonid & Friends: Tribute to the Music of Chicago: 2025 or 6 to 4 Tour — This 11-piece powerhouse has built a global following by nailing the sound and spirit of Chicago, with arrangements so spot-on the band itself took notice. 7:30 p.m. Oct 26 at Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St SE. Click here for tickets.

🎨 ON EXHIBIT

See artwork by Joshua Blue on exhibit at Stefani Gallery

Explore art from prints to paintings...

  • At Hallie Ford Museum of Art, see Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art
  • At Salem on the Edge, see an exhibition of art by Paul Meuse and Zachary McRae
  • At Salem Art Association, see new work by Dayna Collins and more
  • At Stefani Art Gallery, see Joshua Blue's Nostalgia Cope
  • At Artists in Action Gallery, see paintings by Judith Baer and CC Willow
  • At World Beat Gallery, a new exhibit about Oaxaca, Mexico, is now open.

Click here for a full list of what's on exhibit this October

Got an event? Submit it here.