This week in Salem, enjoy the last days of the Oregon State Fair, spend time with your dog and raise money for animal shelters, or work on your gardening skills.
Here is the list of events in Salem for the week of Thursday, August 29 through Wednesday, September 4. Browse all of the Salem Reporter’s event coverage here.
*Entry to events marked with an asterisk is free. However, tickets may be required or a donation is suggested.
Oregon State Fair
Wednesday, August 28 – Monday, September 2: The final days of this year’s Oregon State Fair have arrived, as the fair concludes on Labor Day.
There are four concerts left: Ludacris on Thursday, pop singer Daya on Friday, rock band Foreigner on Saturday and Huntley, winner of The Voice competition, on Monday. More information on the fair’s concert program can be found here.
On September 2nd, a demolition derby with “rough” cars and “tough” drivers will take place in the pavilion at 2 p.m. The derby is free to watch with admission to the trade fair.
The fair includes concerts, entertainment, a carnival, animals, tickets, vendors and more. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children and $1 for seniors. Children under 5 are free. A ticket for all 11 days of the fair is $25. Tickets can be purchased online. Wristbands for the rides are available in advance and cost $45 on weekdays and $55 on weekends.
Urban Art Festival
*Saturday, August 31: Urban Art Fest returns to Riverfront Park, spotlighting local artists, businesses and organizations. The free festival will take place from 1-8 p.m. Saturday, August 31 at the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater. Artists include Chilean hip-hop singer Noa Soulas and Salem beatboxer Robotic Torres. The event aims to create space for artists of color, empower youth and raise awareness of Salem’s housing needs. The park is located at 200 Water St. NE
WillaMutt Strut
Saturday, August 31: The Oregon Humane Society hosts a family-friendly fundraiser for shelter animals across Oregon. The event includes a 1K and 5K walk or run around Riverfront Park, as well as food trucks, local vendors and dog competitions. The WillaMutt Strut begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. Admission is $35, and registration for the Strut is available online.
Live music, comedy, improvisation and other entertainment
Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. SE #150
Thursday, August 29: The final show of Infinity Room’s Short Form Improvisation Workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. Workshop participants will perform a completely improvised show. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door.
Thursday, August 29: Local comedian Eleanore Ryan hosts a benefit comedy show to raise money for Marion County’s homeless community. Donations of canned goods are appreciated but not required. Show starts at 9 p.m., doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available online for $12 and at the door for $15. Show is 21+.
Friday, August 30: Three alternative and rock bands from Salem and Portland will perform starting at 8 p.m. The bands are Showtigers, Barnaby Jones and Hard Neutral. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. All ages are welcome until 10 p.m.
Saturday, August 31: Comedy and drag show performances are designed to raise money for Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian organization that helps LGBTQ+ people escape violence and access gender-affirming care. The trans telethon, hosted by the Science Witch Podcast, begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
Grand Theater, 187 High St. NE
*Thursday, August 29: Rock and country band Drunken Hearts will give a high-energy performance of their “soulful and electrifying” music. The show begins at 7 p.m. and admission is free.
Friday, August 30: A PNW comedy show for couples and everyone else comes to the Grand Theatre at 8 p.m. The show, “Date Night,” includes stand-up, improvisation and interactive games with the audience. Tickets $15 for one, $25 for two.
Saturday, August 31: The Oregon Opry returns to the Grand Theatre. Starting at 8 p.m., several bands and singers will perform country music. Performances include Tyler and the Train Robbers, Jake and the Hill People, and Alison Self. Online tickets are $15 and day-of-show tickets are $20.
Salem Cinema, 1127 Broadway St. NE
Friday, August 30th: The science fiction thriller “Slingshot” opens on Friday at 3 p.m. The film follows a group of three astronauts on a dangerous mission into space. The film is rated 18+ and tickets cost $11.
Other places
Thursday, August 29: Following Ludacris’ performance at the Oregon State Fair on Thursday, Rhythm & Flow and DJ Infamous will host an after-party at Side Hustle Bar, 145 Liberty St. NE, #101. Although DJ Infamous is Ludacris’ official tour DJ, the rapper’s attendance is not guaranteed. The after-party begins at 9 p.m. Early bird tickets are $10 online. Party is 21+.
Wednesday, August 28 – Saturday, September 14: “Clue,” a play based on the 1985 crime comedy and popular board game, will be performed at the Pentacle Theater. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and are half price for students and Oregon Trail Card holders. The theater is located at 324 52nd Ave. NW
August 30 and 31: Keizer Homegrown Theatre presents “Lovecrafted.” Adapted from HP Lovecraft by acclaimed playwright Laramie Dean, this horror play is another world premiere written exclusively for Keizer Homegrown Theatre. Four survivors of interdimensional terror tell their stories in a remote cabin. All performances at 7 p.m. Admission $15, free for Oregon Trail Card holders. Theatre is located at 980 Chemawa Rd. NE
Courses and workshops
*Saturday, August 31: Marion County Master Gardeners will teach proper care of various blackberry varieties and demonstrate how to increase the number of fruits on the plants. Carl and Joyce Heinke, two master gardeners, will lead the workshop and ask participants to wear gloves and bring clean garden shears or pruners. The event begins at 9 a.m. and will be held at the Marion Demonstration Garden, 3180 Center St. NE. Registration for the event is available online.
*Saturday, August 31: The Salem Public Library will host a presentation by Brooke Edmunds of Oregon State University on growing various herbs indoors. The event will include a giveaway of various herb seed packets and a recipe booklet, as well as a chance to win an indoor herb garden kit. The event will be held from 2-3 p.m. at the downtown library, 585 Liberty St. SE.
Markets and shopping
The Salem Public Market takes place every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1240 Rural Avenue SE.
The Salem Community Markets bring local produce, foods and products to various locations throughout the city throughout the week.
The Chemeketa Market will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Chemeketa Community College Agricultural Hub, 4000 Lancaster Drive NE.
The West Salem Farmers Market is held Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 1260 Edgewater St. NW.
The Saturday market is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 865 Marion St. NE.
The Monday Hospital Market is held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Salem Hospital campus, 875 Oak St., between Buildings A and C.
Art and museum exhibitions
See which museums and art galleries in Salem are closing at the end of August and what else is left.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: (email protected).
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Madeleine Moore is a reporter at the Salem Reporter as part of the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden Internship Program. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in June 2024.
