Salem Folklore Community Holiday Concert

A festive evening of acoustic music and poetry! General admission $20, kids 12 and under free

Join us for our third annual magical holiday concert with festive acoustic music and poetry from local performing artists. This event has become a beloved seasonal favorite in Salem, with holiday snacks and apple cider, and greeting friends old and new.

There will be a lovely new blend of all acoustic, all local, all great instrumentalists and songs and poetry.

Ages 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult. Advanced tickets are $20, ($25 at the door), 12 and under are free with ticketed adult.  Refreshments included.

Here are the performers:

Kathy Crosby - Master of Ceremonies

Kathy is a public speaker and professional entertainer who has led successful bluegrass and folk pop groups, served on various music and entertainment related boards, and is proud of her educational and advocacy work for all in the music industry. A full-time creative, she not only writes music, but is also author and vlogger.

Kristen Grainger – Poet

A former speechwriter for two Oregon governors and two university presidents, Kristen is a poet and short fiction writer, nominated for Oregon Poet Laureate in 2024 and received the Oregonian’s Young Writers’ Prize for Short Fiction.

Praise Ringers Handbell Choir

The handbell choir will play Christmas carols that have roots in European traditions of centuries past--a small sample of the variety found within this category of the world’s music. If you have never seen or heard a handbell choir before, you are in for a treat.

Marcia Christenson - Holiday Folk Music from Around the World

Marcia loves folk songs for how they tell stories about a time or culture. She will present holiday songs from various folk traditions around the world.

Free Range - Americana/Folk

With deep roots in the Salem music community, Matt Snook and Claire Levine are a bluegrass/folk duo based out of Portland. Their lovely harmonies will be accompanied by banjo, dobro ,and guitar.

Hector de la O - Latino Holiday

Hector plays Latin American folklore music in a group called Ecos del Sur (Echos from the South), most recently performing for the Portland Library system.

Kara Quello and Tova Mertz - A Celtic Christmas

Kara not only teaches private voice lessons from her home studio but has been the vocal director of several plays at the Pentacle Theater in Salem, Oregon. The master of many vocal styles, she and her daughter Tova Mertz will present songs from Ireland and surrounding countries.