Family events in Salem, OR

Join Youth Services staff for a fun Infant/Toddler Storytime filled with stories, songs, and rhymes. It is geared for babies through toddlers up to age 2 and a half, and caregivers are encouraged to enjoy it with their little ones. Storytime tickets can be picked up at the Floor 2 Ask Here Desk beginning at 10:45 AM.

This reunion brings together past ABA dancers, families, and friends for a community potluck honoring the ballet community. Attendees are asked to bring something to share. The gathering takes place at American Ballet Academy and provides time to reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy shared memories.

Enjoy $1 rides during a summer happy hour that runs for a single hour each Friday.

Learn about mycelium and practical methods for growing mushrooms at home in a welcoming setting. Open to people of all ages, abilities, and identities. Kid friendly activities are part of the program.

Play a live Family Feud style game that follows the TV format. A professional host leads the action using in house TVs and the sound system, creating a game show atmosphere for friends and family to enjoy together. Food is available, including appetizers and entrees, plus 24 taps, cocktails, and nonalcoholic options. Reservations are recommended.

Enjoy the CAMC S-K (Salem-Kaiser) Car Show at Powerland Heritage Park, with registration available onsite and all makes and models welcome. The show features many vehicle entry classes, dash plaques for the first 200 registrants, and no spectator fee.

Riverfront Family Fest brings families together at Salem's Riverfront Park for a free health and safety resource fair that stands among Salem's largest child-focused community gatherings. Nearly 4,000 parents and children take part each year, exploring a variety of family-friendly activities in a setting focused on safety, fun, and connection. The park becomes a lively place to spend time with loved ones and to build new relationships with other community members.

Enjoy a free day in the forest at Englewood Park, featuring performances, live music and dance, plus art from 50 artists. There will also be food and plenty of family-friendly activities. Free parking is available, and the event is open to all ages.

Oscilloscope Laboratories presents CatVideoFest 2026, a compilation of cat videos gathered from unique submissions, animations, music videos, and well known internet classics. Each year, local theaters collaborate with nearby cat focused charities, animal welfare groups, and shelters. A portion of every ticket benefits local cats in need through Friends of Felines.

Hope on the Riverfront is a free, high-energy in-person event for youth and families, featuring live music, real stories, community resource booths, and time to connect and reflect. Expect a welcoming atmosphere, food vendors, and opportunities to build relationships with others, all with a focus on reminding young people they matter, they belong, and their future is full of hope.

At the Marion County Agriculture Fair, this Marion Co. Fair program features classes that include Light Modified, Light Super Stock, Super Stock Diesel Trucks, 8500# Limited Pro Stock, 9500# Limited Pro Stock, and Pro Stock.

A bird walk at Minto-Brown Island Park explores one of Salem’s most diverse natural settings, where varied habitats draw birds and other wildlife throughout the year. The Peter Courtney Bridge connection makes it easier to explore. Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather, bring water, snacks, and binoculars, and wear comfortable footwear due to potentially uneven trails. Expect a good walk. The group meets in Parking Lot #3, the last lot in the park, and the outing highlights seasonal changes with opportunities to spot what is active.

Golden West Winds, the United States Air Force Band’s woodwind quintet, presents a family-friendly concert that pairs precise ensemble playing with expressive artistry. A wide-ranging program salutes those who serve, encourages pride in country, and connects with audiences nationwide through the universal language of music. Admission is free, and seating is first come, first served.

Designed for ages 8 to 10 at Bush's Pasture Park, this tennis camp welcomes beginners and intermediate players. Participants use balls matched to their skill level, practice essential strokes, build coordination through drills, and take part in match play. It highlights the USTA goal of growing the sport to 35 million participants by 2035. The cost is $56 per person per week, with half-price fee waivers available to qualifying Salem residents. Register in person, or call 503-588-6261 for more information.

Designed for ages 11 to 17, this tennis camp at Bush's Pasture Park welcomes beginners and intermediate players. Instruction uses balls matched to skill level and concentrates on core strokes, player coordination, and match play. It supports the USTA aim of reaching 35 million participants by 2035. The fee is 56 dollars per person for each week, and a 50 percent waiver is available to eligible Salem residents. Registration is in person. For additional information, call 503-588-6261.

Explore STEM through a LEGO-inspired camp with Play-Well TEKnologies. Participants bring concepts from physics, engineering, and architecture to life while building through hands-on projects developed by engineers. These projects change with the seasons, giving both newcomers and returning learners fresh challenges and ongoing ways to tap into the creative potential of LEGO building systems.

Take advantage of a set of specials that make dining out simple and affordable. Children 10 and under receive a complimentary meal with the purchase of an entree, limited to two free kids meals per family. Pizzas are available two for $20, and pints are priced at $6.

Salem Cinema hosts a Reel Change For Our Community benefit supporting Children's Educational Theatre, featuring a showcase of short films created by the organization's filmmaking students alongside a screening of the 2011 feature Super 8. A single ticket provides admission to both the student shorts and the film. Set in late 1970s Ohio, Super 8 follows a group of friends making their own zombie movie when they witness a violent train wreck. In the aftermath, their town is unsettled by disappearances and peculiar happenings, and the friends come to realize that something frightening has been unleashed. Children's Educational Theatre offers immersive theater education for young people across the Mid-Valley, welcoming a wide range of ages and experience levels. The organization works year round, with a central focus on a five week summer program where students in grades 3 through 12 explore both performance and technical theater.

Get better at basketball through a high-energy Attack and Counter skill development camp designed for boys and girls in grades 7 through 12. Over three days, players work on key offensive fundamentals like footwork, guard play, post moves and finishing near the basket, ball handling, fast-break skills, and shooting. The camp runs in a “show and go” format where coaches demonstrate drills to the whole group and then players break into coached groups to put those skills into fast, competitive practice.

At Minto-Brown Island Park, Junior Ranger Camp introduces kids to the outdoors through ranger-led walks and engaging, hands-on activities. Participants learn how to explore nature responsibly and care for parks and natural areas, building a foundation for lifelong environmental stewardship. The fee is $49 per person, and 50 percent fee waivers are available for qualified Salem residents.

Bring your classic vehicle for a fun cruise night at the Northwest Car and Motorcycle Museum in Powerland Heritage Park. Enjoy the evening with other car and motorcycle enthusiasts from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Put your knowledge to the test at a lively trivia night in Salem, with a chance to be recognized on the Knowledge Cup trophy. A full bar and 14 food carts provide plenty of options to keep minds fueled while playing. Results are posted on a trivia board for bragging rights, and the setting is family friendly.

An outdoor mini farmers market offers fresh-from-the-farm produce, baked goods, handmade art and crafts, hot food, and more. Located on a grassy area, it provides a place to pick up ingredients, enjoy something to eat, and browse a variety of creative items.

The karaoke mic is back on, creating a family friendly night centered on singing and fun. A welcoming atmosphere sets the stage for an easygoing karaoke experience.

A community running series returns to Bush Park with races for all ages and abilities. Participants can choose 3K or 5K courses that follow the same routes as last season, and kids can take part in free 500 meter and 1600 meter events. The program typically begins with a 3000 meter race open to everyone, continues with a 500 meter dash for children under 7 and a 1600 meter race for ages 7 to 12, and concludes with a 5000 meter race open to all. The open races cost $10, while the youth distances are free. Online registration is available and encouraged, and on-site signups will also be offered. Youth races require in-person registration. Registering for multiple races in one transaction can reduce processing fees. Trophies are awarded at the end of the series to the fastest overall finishers in each race. Participation supports the Kelsy Oldham Memorial Scholarship Fund and local high school cross country teams. For safety, strollers and pets are not permitted on the race courses.