Carlee WrightSunny days are a calling to go out and play. Here are a few ideas to get you started —
Click here for the printable Play Your Way Through Summer Checklist
Through October, the City of Salem is hosting free, all-ages concerts at 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month at the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater in Riverfront Park. Here’s the line-up —
- Aug 5: The Ferenjis, neo-soul
- Sep 2: Showtigers, rock ‘n’ roll trio
- Oct 7: Pachanga, Latin rock
Marion County Fair celebrates county and community with animals, exhibits, live music, food, carnival rides, contests galore and more. This year’s headline performers are singer/songwriter Breland, 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 8 and Frank Ray, blending Latin vibes into country music, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 9. Check the website for the full list of fun. Festivities take place 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 10, at Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St NE. Tickets are free to $9. Purchase online for discount. Info: marioncountyfair.net
It’s lucky 13 for the Rust-O-Rama Car Show highlighting American pre-1965 traditional customs, hot rods, rat rods and more, plus live music, a swap meet, vendors, skateboard art contest, raffle and more. Tickets are free to $5; $20 to register a car. Happening 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at Oregon State Fairgrounds. Info: facebook.com/CherryCityBombersCC
Celebrate your inner child with the added perk of adult beverages at Gilbert House for Grown-Ups where you can enjoy indoor and outdoor entertainment, free eats, local beer, wine and cider, plus playing in Bill’s Bubble Factory. Get ready to play 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Gilbert House Children’s Museum, 116 Marion St NE. Info & Tickets: acgilbert.org/gilbert-house-for-grown-ups/
Hoopla XXIII is set for July 12 through 17 surrounding the Capitol building in downtown Salem. The event, which is Oregon’s largest 3×3 basketball tournament, will be a nearly week-long celebration of all things basketball. Hoopla draws approximately 1,000+ teams, 4,500 participants, 1,000 volunteers and thousands of spectators. Learn more and register to participate at oregonhoopla.com
IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon returns to Salem. The race includes a 1.2-mile downriver swim in the Willamette River, a 56-mile ride through Oregon’s wine country and a 13.1-mile run in Minto Brown Island Park. Each athlete will have 8 hours and 30 minutes to complete the race, which begins at 6:15 a.m. Sunday, July 10. An Awards Ceremony and the 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Slot Allocation completes the day at 3:45 p.m.
Center of the event weekend is the IRONMAN Village (at the Salem Convention Center), a space (free and open to the public) where athletes and the public can interact with official IRONMAN partners and vendors.
The IRONKIDS Oregon Fun Run will take place 9 a.m. Saturday, July 9 in Riverfront Park. The run, offering distances of 1 mile, 0.5 mile and 80ft, is aimed at ages 1-17. Registration is $20 and includes a t-shirt, medal, goodie bag and race bib. One parent can run with their child for free on any distance. Learn more at ironman.com/im703-oregon
Cool off or just have fun, the City of Salem spray fountains can help you do both. Open seven days a week, each self-operating spray fountain features a unique play experience. And with seven in Salem, that’s a different experience each day of the week. Fountains are open 12 to 8 p.m. unless otherwise listed.
- Englewood Park, 1260 19th St NE
- Fairmount Park, 650 Rural St S
- Northgate Park, 3575 Fairhaven Ave NE
- Riverfront Park, 200 Water St NE. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- River Road Park, 3045 River Rd N. Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wes Bennett Park, 2200 Baxter Rd SE
- West Salem Park, 265 Rosemont Ave NW
Englewood Forest Festival is a gathering of art, environment and community nestled in seven wooded acres near downtown Salem that aims to celebrate, educate and support, especially that of the Northeast neighborhood. Shop vendors and artisans, participate in family-friendly workshops, listen to live music and more. This year’s main stage features a variety of entertainment including —
- 10 a.m. Ceili of the Valley, Celtic Dancing
- 11 a.m. Phoenix, Folk Pop
- 12 p.m. Isaac Engel & Leah Burleson, Classical Guitar and Cello
- 1 p.m. Ty Curtis Band, Rock and Blues
- 2:30 pm. Ballet Folklorico Guelaguetza, Oaxacan Dancing
- 3:15 pm. Colores de America, Latino Band
Join the fun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 13, at Englewood Park, 1260 19th St NE. Info: englewoodforestfestival.org
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the City of Salem’s Civic Center, 555 Liberty St SE, with an afternoon of family-friendly fun 3 to 7 p.m. Aug 18. The party will feature a resource fair, live entertainment, games, tours, a scavenger hunt and more. The center is an exemplary expression of local New Brutalist architecture and has been nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Email 50th@cityofsalem.net for more details.
New date, new name, same great brewfest. Cinco de Micro is now Salem on Tap Brewfest and brings together a sampling of breweries, ciders and distilleries with live music entertainment this summer. Proceeds support Boys & Girls Club of Salem. Drink up August 19 & 20 at Salem Convention Center. Info: facebook.com/CincoDeMicro/
The Furbish Marketplace, an outdoor night market with food carts, bar carts, specialty vendors, salvage for DIY, outdoor plants, indoor plants, artists, furniture, live music, and fun for the entire family is running every weekend now through October. Check it out 12 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and 12 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Follow them at instagram.com/furbishsalvage/ to stay in the loop.
Shop fresh, local and handmade products, from flowers and produce to artisan food and crafts, at the Salem Community Markets. The Saturday Market, which is the largest seasonal market in our city, runs every Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October. If you can’t make Saturday, there’s also the Monday Hospital Market 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through Sept. 26 and the Thursday West Salem Farmers Market which has moved to the afternoon/evening and runs 3 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 15. Learn more (and see the list of vendors) at salemcommunitymarkets.com.
Adding to the West Salem market excitement are Last Thursdays on Edgewater which bring together vendors, crafts, activities and more 4 to 7 p.m. July 28 and August 25 at the Edgewater Greenway between Patterson & McNary.
Check out the inaugural Cherry City Flea Market 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday, August 28, at Salem Convention Center. This family and dog-friendly outdoor market features some of Salem’s finest makers and curators. Info: cherrycityflea.com
Oregon State Fair highlights animals, attractions, arts & crafts and more, along with spirited competitions and live entertainment for the whole family. This year’s headlining performers include Rascal Flatts lead singer, Gary LeVox; Grammy Award-winning reggae artist Shaggy – Tuesday; faith and worship leaders Bethel Music; R&B girl group TLC; country music star Scotty McCreery, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Beach Boys; and hip-hop artist Nelly. The fair takes place Aug 26 to Sep 5 at Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St NE. Info: oregonstatefair.org
Calling all cornholers! The 2022 Capital City Cornhole Classic is happening 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept 10 at State Capitol State Park. Featuring advanced, competitive and social team divisions, as well as single and youth divisions, this tournament is for veteran and beginner cornhole players alike. Played on the lawn of the Oregon State Capitol, the event will feature more than 200 players from across the PNW, plus craft beer, local food trucks and activities for the whole family. Proceeds help fund Shangri-La’s Housing Assistance Program which provides permanent and supportive housing to individuals with disabilities who are experiencing chronic homelessness. Info: shangrilaoregon.org/capitalcitycornholeclassic
Salem Capital Pride brings artists, vendors, education and entertainment to Riverfront Park Amphitheatre for Pride in the Park happening 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sep 24. Stay in the know at salemcapitalpride.org
Click here for the printable
Play Your Way Through Summer Checklist
A version of this story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 14 (Summer 2022)
Last Updated: July 9, 2022
Author: Carlee Wright
Carlee Wright is a community instigator with a grand love for Salem and notably fashionable shoes (Hello, John Fluevog!) who turns waste into wearable art in her "spare" time.
Tracy Torres
