It’s the Fourth of July weekend and Salem is celebrating American independence in the sweltering heat. In addition to fireworks, you can learn how to tend berry bushes or watch several musical shows.
Here is the list of events in Salem for the week of Thursday, July 4, through Wednesday, July 10. Browse all of the Salem Reporter’s event coverage here.
Event descriptions come from posts and listings by the organizers.
*Free events are marked with an asterisk.
Celebrate Independence Day
Salem’s Fourth of July Spectacular is Thursday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th Street NE. The evening concludes with a free fireworks display beginning at 10 p.m.
Other events include a ticketed demolition derby at 7:30 p.m., a VIP party zone with musical performances, and a fun zone with activities such as face painting, a bouncy castle, and lawn games. Parking is $10 per car.
Tickets for each event, which range from $7 to $37, can be purchased online. Bringing blankets for the fireworks is recommended.
For more regional Independence Day events, see our summary below.
Live music, comedy, improvisation and local performances
Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St SE #150
July 5th: Wire Monkey Mama, The Doug Fury’s and Ace Stardust play at the Infinity Room. Doors open at 7:30pm, show at 8pm, after 9pm only people 21 and older are allowed. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.
July 6: Local comedy show Slay ‘Em is celebrating comedian Crash’s 21st birthday this month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. All ages, but clean. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
The Grand Theatre, 191 High St. NE
July 6 and 7: RiverCity Rock Star Academy hosts its end of season shows. Saturday’s show runs from 12pm to 4pm and Sunday’s from 3pm to 6:45pm. Tickets are $10, seating is free. Tickets for Saturday are available here and for Sunday are available here.
Other places
July 6: Honky Tonk Bar & Grill is hosting a Red, White & Blue Party starting with a hot dog eating contest at 5:30pm and a soda drinking contest at 6pm. Live music by Muddy Creek starts at 8pm. The bar is located at 2275 McGilchrist St SE
Live theatre and cinema
July 7: “Where Olive Trees Weep,” a documentary about the resilience of the Palestinian people, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. at the Salem Cinema. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the event and will benefit the Oregon Food Bank and Marion Polk Food Share.
July 10: The Salem Cinema will host a special screening of “Meet Me in the Bathroom,” a documentary about the New York music scene in the early 2000s. The film begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $11.
Courses, workshops and lectures
*July 6: Learn the basics of berry care and selection at a workshop hosted by Marion County Master Gardeners from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The event will be held at the organization’s demonstration garden in Salem. Free, but advance registration is required.
*July 9: Kids can participate in the OMSI Science Exploration Pit Crew event, where they have the opportunity to learn about science and engineering by building their own cars at the Salem Public Library. Space is limited and registration is required. Two sessions, 1:00-2:00 p.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m., free.
Markets and shopping
*July 6: Blast Off Vintage hosts its Underground Market, 860 High St. NE, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The market features locally handcrafted goods and services such as tarot card readings and massages.
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 cultural exhibitions
See what’s on display at local galleries and museums this month.
Soon
Next week’s events include the Marion County Fair and the start of a free summer concert series at West Salem Park. Check out our full calendar of events for July.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: (email protected) or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is the editor-in-chief of the Salem Reporter. She joined the Salem Reporter at its founding in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits, and a little bit of everything else. She has been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she is a skater and board member at Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and is often engrossed in a book.
