If you happen to be lucky enough to be in Salem, Oregon this fall, you'll find a variety of activities and events for both adults and kids! Not only is Salem the state capitol of Oregon, it's also a central hub for the Willamette Valley. Here's a few ideas for enjoying the best of what Salem has to offer this season. #1 See a Live Show at Elsinore Theatre If a trip to the theatre is your thing, the Elsinore is worth checking out! Built in 1926, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It was inspired by the beauty of European castles and originally became a home for live performances and silent films. It's a beautiful building that features the architecture of Ellis F. Lawrence and stained glass from the Povey Brothers of Portland. You can learn more about the timeline of renovations over the years on the theater's website here. Aside from the historic and architectural glory of the Elsinore, it's still a working theatre with performances that include film, dance, comedy and more! They'll be showing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on October 28th. A fitting screening for hallo-weekend. Check the website for info and tickets! If a World Ballet Series of Cinderella is more your style, grab tickets to attend this event on October 29th. Check the website for all of the other upcoming events, like Comedian Colin Jost from Saturday NIght Live, on November 3rd! #2 Shop the Salem Saturday Market and Local Farms 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the Salem Saturday Market! Over 150 vendors offer local handmade, handcrafted, and homegrown products from the Mid-Willamette Valley. The season wraps up on the last Saturday of October on the 28th. But no worries! There is another place to find these local treasures throughout the remainder of the fall season and all the way until next March! Wavra Farms and Nursery is hosting an Indoor Winter Market at their farm located about 10 miles from downtown Salem. This market gives vendors and visitors alike a place to gather and shop for their favorite local items all year round! The vendors will be set up inside large greenhouses to keep everyone warm and dry in the rainy Oregon weather, and there will be plenty of opportunities for delectable food and drink while you shop. This market runs every Saturday from 10am to 3pm and offers a variety of foods, crafts, and plants. For directions and more information, check their website here! In addition to many other produce stands and farms in the Salem area, the well established EZ Orchards hosts a Harvest Fest through October 30th. This farm is open year round and for a small admission fee you can visit the pumpkin patch, petting zoo, corn maze, and more! This time of year, the pumpkins and apples are the highlights of the season and their website has all the extra info you'll need to plan your trip! #3 Expand Your Horizons at the Willamette Heritage Center More than just a venue for activities, the Willamette Heritage Center is a place that offers a historical museum and outlet for numerous local events. Within their 5 acres, there are several historic structures that allow plenty of space for special events, museum tours, shops, and both changing and permanent exhibits. Their mission is to make connections through gathering, preserving, and sharing Mid-Willamette Valley history. From the long ago past to the most recent industrial developments, and everything in between, the Willamette Heritage Center has a story to tell. Among some of the cultural events coming up in October, there is the 2023 Celtic New Year Festival, held on October 21st, from 10am to 5pm. This festival has been organized by The Ceili of the Valley Society, and will be celebrating the culture of the 7 Celtic Nations with live music, dancing, kids activities, workshops, vendors, and food. If you're looking for another All Hallows Eve Activity, there will be a fun Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treat for kids at the Willamette Heritage Center on October 29th, from 12pm to 4pm. For more historical information and a list of all the events at the center, be sure to visit their website here! #4 Gift Shop at the Harvest Holiday Bazaar This holiday bazaar is one of the many events you'll find at the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center. The fairgrounds stand on 185 acres with numerous buildings, including a Historic Horse Stadium, the L.B Day Amphitheater, and the Jackman-Long building; that's just to name a few. The Harvest Holiday Bazaar is one of the upcoming events that will be located in the Jackman-Long building on October 28th, from 10am to 4pm. Admission and parking is free! Plus, kids can wear costumes and go “Trick-or-Treating” in a safe and comfortable community environment, getting a sweet treat from vendors as their parents shop. There will be plenty of variety and lots of vendors at this bazaar so you can come out and get started on gathering gift ideas and holiday shopping! Plus, there will be raffles and more! If you miss this one, don't worry, because there's another holiday show coming on November 18th and 19th. This one is called the “Showbiz Salem Holiday Expo”, and will showcase local businesses and non-profits. Over 100 exhibitors will be displaying their products and/or services. You'll find live entertainment, great gifts, crafts, and samples of specialty foods from local restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries. This is a great way to get to know some of Salem's local businesses. #5 Experience the Heart of the Valley Fall 2023 Home and Garden Show One more event that is happening at the Oregon State Fairgrounds and Exposition Center is the annual Home and Garden Show. This is a 3-day event, held on November 10th-12th. You can expect more than 70 vendors who offer products and services for both your home and garden. Fall is all about change, so it's the perfect time to be thinking about switching it up, and this show can definitely give you ideas, along with the resources you need to make it all happen! With so many things to do in Salem, there's also a number of parks close by for hiking and exploring nature, even if it's raining! Oregonian's won't shy away from a little wet weather. Whether you're looking for a short and easy outing, like Riverfront City Park (be sure and check out the Riverfront Carousel while you're there), or if you're looking for something a little further out with a serious hike, like Silver Falls State Park, (which is about 23 miles from Salem), there's always plenty to see and do in and around this beautiful Oregon capitol city. The only thing left to do now is make your choice and enjoy your day in Salem, Oregon!
