It’s mid-December in Salem, Oregon, and businesses and organizations across the city are hosting some wonderful events! Whether you’re searching for live music, holiday mixers, or kid-friendly events with Christmas celebrities (like Santa and Buddy the Elf), Salem has something special in store. Here are just a few of the weekend’s local happenings.
HonkyTonk Christmas!
Join HonkyTonk Bar and Grill for their final full band performance of the year! Get ready for a special holiday treat as they dedicate an entire set to your favorite Christmas classics. They will even provide songbooks so you can sing along and make it a jolly group experience. Cover charge is just $5. Don’t miss out!
Date: December 15, 2023
Time: 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Location: HonkyTonk Bar and Grill // 2275 McGilchrist St SE, Salem, OR
Cost: $5 cover charge
Breakfast with Santa at the Carousel
On the morning of December 16th, join the Riverfront Carousel for a delightful breakfast buffet with Santa Claus himself. For $35 per person, you can enjoy a hearty meal, visit with Santa, carousel rides, a special gift, and a photo keepsake. Be sure to reserve your spot online beforehand as there are limited spots available.
Date: December 16, 2023
Time: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Location: Salem’s Riverfront Carousel // 101 Front St SE, Salem, OR
Cost: $35 per person (view ticket information)
Decorating Cookies and Hot Cocoa with Buddy
Buddy the Elf is in town, and he’s going to be decorating cookies at Brandy’s All City Sweets! Come on down to the shop for the opportunity to decorate mouthwatering cookies (provided by Brandy’s All City Sweets) and savor hot cocoa (provided by Dolce Mama’s). It’s the perfect way to add a little touch of magic to your holiday season!
Date: December 16, 2023
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Brandy’s All City Sweets // 335 State St, Salem, OR
Cost: $20 per decorator (view ticket information)
Kittens & Cuddles at Just Us Girls Coffee & Wine Bar
Visit Just Us Girls Coffee & Wine Bar for a heartwarming morning of coffee and kitten cuddles on December 16th. Whether you’re searching for a new furry family member or simply want to enjoy some delicious food and drinks alongside a kitten friend, this event is for you. Bring the whole family to meet their adorable, adoptable cats and kittens. For every coffee or espresso drink sold, $1 will directly support Meow Village, an entirely foster-based rescue.
Date: December 16, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Just Us Girls Coffee & Wine Bar // 2195 Hyacinth St NE, Salem, OR
Cost: Coffee for purchase, donations encouraged!
Frozen Holiday Camp & Movie Time
Does your child love all things Frozen? Take them to Salem Gymnastics Center’s Frozen Camp and Parents’ Day Out on December 16th! The fun-filled activities include open gym playtime, zip line, trampoline, foam pit, and ninja rig. There will be a themed craft project, a delightful goodie bag, a screening of the movie Frozen, and pizza lunch complete with drinks and snacks. This camp is designed for kids aged 3 to 12. Encourage your child to come dressed up as their favorite Frozen character for an extra dose of fun! They’re also showing The Polar Express from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Date: December 16, 2023
Time: 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Salem Gymnastics Center // 2775 19th St SE, Salem, OR
Cost: $35 per child (view camp reservation form)
Beginners Mushroom Growing Master Class
Have you ever wanted to know how to grow mushrooms in your own home? Look no further than this Beginners Mushroom Growing Master Class put on by Primordial Oregon. In this informative class, you’ll learn about all the essentials for cultivating mushrooms right in your own home, as well as maintaining a sustainable growing cycle with the mushrooms you harvest! This class includes hands-on demonstrations. Tickets for this event are $55 per person.
Topics covered will include:
- Mushroom Growing Terminology
- Mushroom Life Cycle
- Agar Production
- Substrate Production
- Grain Production
- Clones/Spore Harvesting
- Resetting the grow
- Liquid Culture
- Practical Application – Still Air Box Creation
Date: December 16, 2023
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Primordial Oregon // 1812 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR
Cost: $55 per person
Santa Crawl 2023 – Downtown Salem
Ho, ho, ho, is that a group of Santas we see? Don your favorite Santa hat to be part of Travel Salem’s Santa Crawl 2023! The bar crawl features Ritter’s, The Best Goose, Venti’s Cafe + Beer Vault, Pacific Standard, and Taproot. Registration starts at 6:00 PM at Travel Salem and the crawl will kick off at 6:30 PM, with a grand prize drawing at the Holman Hotel at 10:15 PM. You can earn raffle tickets and a chance to win giveaways by registering for the event (1 ticket), dressing up in holiday attire (1 ticket), and visiting the entrance of each participating bar (1 ticket per bar). Registration is open until December 16th or until the first 200 participants. Register online to reserve a spot!
Remember, all participants must be 21 years or older to join the festive fun. 🎅
Date: December 16, 2023
Time: 6:00 PM – 10:15 PM
Location: Starts at Travel Salem // 630 Center St NE, Salem, OR
Cost: $10 (view registration information)
Sean Holmes Band ft. LaRhonda Steele
Renowned vocalist Sean Holmes teams up with the talented LaRhonda Steele and an exceptional band to deliver a captivating set of vocal jazz, funk, soul, and RnB at Christo’s Pizzeria & Lounge. Over the years, Sean has collaborated with an impressive roster of artists, including Linda Hornbuckle, the Portland Jazz Orchestra, David Byrne & The Oregon Symphony, Bobby Torres, Esperanza Spalding, and more. He has performed at festivals such as the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, Rose Festival, The Bite, and the Waterfront Blues Festival. Don’t miss this dynamic musical experience!
Date: December 16, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Christo’s Pizzeria & Lounge // 1108 Broadway St NE, Salem, OR
Cost: $18 (view ticket information)
Mix & Mingle – Holiday Event
Celebrate the holiday season with the Mix & Mingle Holiday Event, perfect for all ages! Get into the festive spirit with activities like an Ugly Christmas sweater photo booth (wear your most outrageous sweater!), meet Santa and The Grinch, savor hot chocolate and cookies, craft your own ornaments, decorate cookies, and even try your luck at winning prizes. This event also supports the Always in my Heart Charity, dedicated to comforting women and families facing miscarriage and stillbirth. Presented by Hilltop Property Group and sponsored by James and Travis with Synergy One Lending, this heartwarming community gathering is hosted by Johnson Family Orthodontics.
Date: December 17, 2023
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Johnson Family Orthodontics // 5669 Commercial St SE #200, Salem, OR
Cost: FREE
Embrace the holiday spirit, create cherished memories with loved ones, and spread joy throughout December with these fantastic upcoming events. Don’t miss out on the magic that Salem has to offer during this “most wonderful time of the year!” ❄️✨
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