Llamas, sheep and a square dance troupe take over the Oregon State Capitol grounds Saturday, Oct. 3. Oregon's Bounty, an annual agricultural fair, fills the rotunda, galleria, plaza and second floor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Americana and bluegrass duo True North will play starting at 10 a.m., and the Independence Wagon Wheelers will square dance in the rotunda at 11:30 a.m., according to Salem Reporter. Kids can decorate pumpkins on the Capitol steps, visit a free pumpkin patch and pet llamas and sheep in the plaza, according to the Capitol's event page. The Capitol is at 900 Court St. NE.
Drivers should plan ahead. The city will close Court Street NE between Capitol Street NE and Winter Street NE from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the event, the Statesman Journal reported.
Hispanic Heritage Community Fair
On Tuesday, Oct. 6, a free community food fair celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with local vendors including Tacos La Familia, Cafe Chula, Vianney's Tamales and Los Argentinos. The fair, titled "Together We Are More," runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3991 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, according to a Travel Salem listing.
Venture Hall launches open mic series
That same evening, the former Cinebarre movie theater at 501 Marion St. NE reopens as something new. Venture Hall, the downtown arts hub operated by nonprofit Wandering Players Theatrics, hosts its first monthly open mic night on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with music and poetry performances from 7 to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to all ages, according to Venture Hall's website.
Executive director Jeremy Clubb, a Salem native, formed Wandering Players Theatrics in 2025 and moved the group into the 38,000-square-foot, seven-auditorium space in September. As we reported Sept. 28, the venue hosted its first public event, a Storybook Character Adventure, on Sept. 25.
Clubb told Salem Reporter in August that the thought of Salem needing affordable performance space kept him going through more than 1,000 hours of preparation. The group is raising $50,000 for renovations and operating costs.
Venture Hall's first full production, "Evil Dead The Musical," opens Oct. 23 with shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 15. Tickets are $25 for general seating and $40 for the "splash zone," where fake blood flies.
More this week
- Harvest festivals: E.Z. Orchards in northeast Salem offers a corn maze, farm animals and apple cider donuts. Bauman Farms in Gervais has live music, hay rides and a pumpkin weighing contest Saturday, Oct. 3.
- Pup-tober Fest: The Oregon Humane Society hosts a free dog-friendly event Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Capitol Subaru, 3010 Commercial St. SE. Expect pup cups, pumpkins, a haunted photo booth and costume-clad dogs.
