This weekend in Salem is looking busy in the best way. Art fairs, live music, races, workshops, and plenty more are filling the calendar.
77th Annual Salem Art Fair and Festival
Bush’s Pasture Park will come alive with art, music, food, and creativity during the 77th Annual Salem Art Fair and Festival. Presented by the Salem Art Association, the three-day event features more than 200 juried artists from around the country, live performances, artisan demonstrations, food carts, regional drinks, and hands-on activities for all ages. Meet the artists, browse and purchase original work, and enjoy one of Salem’s longest-running traditions.
Date: September 11 – 13, 2026
Time: Friday & Saturday 10 AM – 7 PM (Entertainment until 9 PM) | Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM
Location: Bush’s Pasture Park // 890 Mission St SE, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: $5 – $10; FREE for ages 12 and under (view ticket information)
Art Fair Plant Sale 2026
Browse a unique selection of perennials during the annual Art Fair Plant Sale at Bush’s Pasture Park, hosted by Mission Street Parks Conservancy. The sale will feature unusual plants from local specialty nurseries in the shady area near Bush House Museum. With fall being an ideal time for planting perennials, it’s a great stop for anyone looking to add something new to the garden.
Date: September 11 – 13, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Bush’s Pasture Park // 600 Mission St SE, Salem, OR 97302
Cost: FREE admission to the sale; plants for purchase
Jamal Coleman and Zoë Schwartz at Kofi Cafe & Cocktails
Comedy will be in the spotlight at Kofi Cafe & Cocktails with performances from Jamal Coleman and Zoë Schwartz. Award-winning Jamal Coleman is known for his high-energy sets, quick improvisation, and freestyle comedy-rap (with appearances across SiriusXM, Tubi, VH1, ABC, and CBS), and Portland-based comedian Zoë Schwartz brings a sharp, unapologetic style with takes on family, womanhood, and her hippie upbringing. 21+.
Date: September 11, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Kofi Cafe & Cocktails // 2195 Hyacinth St NE Ste 133, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: $11 (view ticket information)
Intro to Linocut Printing with Bella Ramey
Curious about printmaking? Art Department is offering a beginner-friendly linocut workshop with Bella Ramey that walks participants through the full process, from sketching and carving to inking and printing. Each person will leave with a hand-carved 4″ x 6″ linocut block, several original prints, and a take-home block printing kit to keep creating after class.
Space is limited to 12 participants.
Date: September 12, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Art Department // 254 Commercial St NE, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: $75 (view registration information)
2026 Boot Scoot and Brew Music Festival
Riverfront Park will be buzzing all day during the 2026 Boot Scoot and Brew Music Festival. This family-friendly fundraiser hosted by Center 50+ includes live music, food carts, beer, wine, raffles, line dancing, dance demos, vendors, a mechanical bull, bounce house, zucchini races, and more. VIP passes are available and include merchandise, tastings, and special seating. There is also a park and ride shuttle available from Center 50+ (2615 Portland Rd) for $2 round trip.
Date: September 12, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Location: Riverfront Park Gerry Frank Amphitheatre // 200 Water St SE, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: $8 adults; FREE for ages 12 and under; $50 VIP passes
Salem Hardy Plant Society Fall Plant Sale
Garden lovers can spend Saturday morning browsing plants, garden art, and more at the Salem Hardy Plant Society Fall Plant Sale at Sebright Gardens. More than a dozen nursery and garden art vendors will be on hand, giving shoppers a chance to talk directly with growers and makers while supporting local businesses. After shopping, grab lunch from Claudia’s Kitchen and enjoy a picnic in Sebright’s display gardens.
Date: September 12, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PDT
Location: Sebright Gardens // 7185 Lakeside Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305
Cost: FREE to attend; items for purchase
Honeyy Bunny Cozy Floral Workshop
A cozy afternoon of creativity is coming to Cória Estates with Honeyy Bunny’s seasonal floral workshop. Participants will create their own one-of-a-kind bouquet inside a tree trunk vase, making a warm, fall-inspired arrangement to take home and enjoy as the season begins to change.
Date: September 12, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Cória Estates // 8252 Redstone Ave SE, Salem, OR 97306
Cost: $45
Hands Across the Bridge 2026
Recovery, remembrance, and community connection come together at Riverfront Park for Hands Across the Bridge 2026. The free event, hosted by ROCC Recovery Outreach Community Center, will feature live music, guest speakers, community resources, vendors, raffle prizes, family-friendly activities, and a bridge walk at 3 PM. The gathering honors those navigating recovery from addiction and mental health challenges while remembering loved ones who have been lost.
Date: September 12, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Riverfront Park, North Meadow & Pavilion // 200 Water St NE, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: FREE
Cherry City Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Race
Riverfront Park will be full of race-day energy for the Cherry City Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Race. While registration is sold out, spectators can still come out to cheer on runners and walkers as they make their way through the course, then stick around for music, awards, the kids race, and post-race Oregon wine and craft beer.
Date: September 13, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Riverfront Park // 200 Water St NE, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: Registration sold out; FREE to spectate
The Great Marble Hunt
Downtown Salem will transform into a treasure hunt during The Great Marble Hunt, with more than 100 handmade glass marbles hidden throughout parks, historic landmarks, and participating businesses. The route stretches roughly 3.5 miles between Riverfront Park, the Salem Carousel, and the Oregon State Capitol, with each one-of-a-kind marble crafted by an award-winning glass artist.
Come with good walking shoes and a sense of adventure! RSVP recommended; no ticket required.
Date: September 13, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: The Glass Union // 120 Commercial St NE, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: FREE (view registration information)
We Make Art Paint and Sip
A laid-back afternoon of painting and wine is coming to Cória Estates with Claudia from We Make Art. This beginner-friendly workshop includes all painting materials, so no experience is needed. The class will be held in the Barrel Room. Food and wine will be available for purchase.
Date: September 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Cória Estates // 8252 Redstone Ave SE, Salem, OR 97306
Cost: $40 (view ticket information)
Terri Clark: Live in Concert
Country music favorite Terri Clark takes the stage at the Elsinore Theatre for a night of hits from a career spanning more than three decades. As a Grand Ole Opry member and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Clark has earned multiple No. 1 singles, sold millions of albums, and toured with artists including Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Brooks & Dunn.
Date: September 13, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Elsinore Theatre // 170 High St SE, Salem, OR 97301
Cost: Varies (view ticket information)
There’s a lot happening around Salem this weekend. Find a few events that sound fun and make a day of it!