Salem, Keizer, and the surrounding areas host tree lighting ceremonies, parades, light displays, markets, and more during the Christmas season. We know all the details.
Here’s how to lift your spirits beyond mid-valley.
Downtown Salem Holiday Parade
Find a place to sit or stand on State Street on Friday night, Dec. 1, and watch the Downtown Salem Holiday Parade.
After hundreds of people attended the event, which returns in 2022, event organizers with the Salem Main Street Association said they are excited to continue and expand the celebration.
Last year’s event was Salem’s first holiday parade in more than a decade and featured carolers, Santa Claus in an antique fire truck, marching bands, dancers and a tree lighting.
The parade is part of the Salem Main Street Association’s holiday lineup, which includes holiday lights and decorations throughout downtown, a weekend of carols and festive music, and decorated window displays.
Staging begins at 4:30 p.m. and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Most of the route follows State Street.
The parade will begin at Waverly Street and State Street, end at the intersection of Liberty Street Northeast and Court Street Northeast, and the celebration will take place on Court Street between Liberty Street and Commercial Street.
Kaiser Christmas illumination miracle
Drive through the Gubser area to see the Kaiser Miracle of Lights from December 1st to December 26th, when hundreds of homes will be lit up along a nearly 3-mile route.
The tradition began in 1984 on 14th Street as a friendly competition between neighboring families, and has since become a community event benefitting the Marion Pork Food Share. Every season, thousands of cars and tour buses from Salem-Keizer and beyond gather to collect thousands of dollars and pounds of food.
Currently, the Kaiser Miracle of Lights, hosted by the Greater Gubser Neighborhood Association, is held nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. Entrance is located at 14th North from Lockhaven Drive. Follow the “Snow Cop” signs and they will lead the way.
Visitors can drop off non-perishable items or cash for food distribution at a donation tent just north of Mistwood Drive on the 14th. Organizers report that 30 meals will be provided for $10.
Monmouth Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
Join Western Oregon University’s Campus Holiday Parade and 55th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in Monmouth on Friday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.
Alumni-sponsored cocoa and cider will be served next to the redwood tree.
Holiday activities, including photos with Santa and cookie decorating, will be held at the Werner University Center from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Mount Angel Hazelnut Fest
Saturday, Dec. 1 and visit the annual Hazelnut Fest from Dec. 1 to 3. Holiday crafts, artisan sales, and local craft beer and wine will all be held indoors.
Admission is free. Drinks and food are available for purchase.
Buddy the Elf will be appearing on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
Willamette Star Tree Lighting and Concert
Join us on the Willamette University campus for the annual Star Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m.
The five giant sequoias on the north side of campus were planted as saplings as a farewell gift to the 1942 Centennial graduating class. Years later, if you stood in the middle and looked up at the sky, it became known as the Star Tree. , you can see a star pattern on the top of the tree.
The tree lighting ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m., with music, cocoa and s’mores. This will be followed by a Family Holiday Concert featuring the University Chamber Orchestra and Willamette Band at 7 p.m. in Hudson Hall at the Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center.
Deepwood Holiday Open House
Visit Deepwood Museum & Gardens on Saturday, Dec. 2, in Salem for a Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Greet Santa Claus in the front parlor and be greeted inside the house by hosts and hostesses dressed in Victorian costumes. Handmade ornaments hang from trees scattered throughout the home, reminiscent of Victorian-era holiday decorations.
This event is free and made possible by funding from the City of Salem’s temporary occupancy tax.
The organization will be holding a mini-holiday sale selling tea cans, tea cups, and more in the sunroom.
Turner Christmas Event & Tree Lighting
Join the community as they decorate the city’s Christmas tree on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m., and the Mayor will light the tree at 6:30 p.m.
Santa will come to City Hall to light the Christmas tree and serve hot chocolate and cookies.
Get an early start to the day to shop at local businesses, as the town’s annual Christmas market will be held in the Turner Elementary School gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Dallas Main Street Tree Lighting and Parade
Join us for Miracle on Main Street in Dallas on Saturday, December 2nd. It includes a parade, tree lighting, Santa, a Christmas market and other activities.
The market opens at noon, the parade begins at 5 p.m., and the tree lighting ceremony takes place at 5:30 p.m.
The parade begins near LaCreole Middle School and follows LaCreole Drive to Miller Avenue, then Alderson Southeast, Azalea Avenue Southeast, and ends at Mill Street Southeast at the Polk County Courthouse.
Mayor Woodburn Tree Lighting
Join us on Sunday, December 3rd for the Mayor’s Tree Lighting in Woodburn.
The free event will be held at the Woodburn Downtown Plaza from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Sponsors will provide hot chocolate and coffee, Santa’s workshop and photos, youth activities, and free stuffed animals while supplies last.
Keizer holiday tree lighting
The City, Council and Fire District will participate in the Kaiser Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at Walery Plaza, corner of Cherry Avenue and River Road N.
Santa is scheduled to arrive at 6:30 p.m., escorted by the Kaiser Fire Department, and two children will be chosen to help Santa flip the switch to light the tree.
The Keizer Elks parking lot is located at 4395 Cherry Ave. NE.
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at Riverfront Park
On Friday, Dec. 8, Santa and the City of Salem will light up Riverfront Park with the annual Tree Lighting at 200 Water St. NE.
This year, there will be free hot cocoa and cookies, snow, holiday music, horse-drawn carriage rides, a visit from Santa and more. The park’s holiday lights will remain lit until after Christmas.
This year’s event will be held from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.
Kaiser Holiday Lights Parade
Catch the Kaiser Holiday Lights Parade along River Road N on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
This year’s theme is “Joy to the World.” The parade will follow two miles of River Road from Lock Haven Drive to Greenbrook Street.
Look out for food trucks where you can purchase snacks and where you can get free cookies and hot chocolate.
factory magic
Join us at Willamette Heritage Center on the evenings of December 19-23 for our annual Magic at the Mill celebration.
The event features thousands of twinkling lights each night from 5:30 to 8 p.m., as well as music, vendors, children’s activities, demonstrations, museum tours, living history, Santa, model trains and more .
Admission is $15 for adults (ages 13-64), $12 for seniors (ages 65 and older), and $10 for children (ages 4-12). Children 3 and under are free. Free for Willamette Heritage members.
Tickets can be purchased on the Willamette Heritage website and attendance is limited to 1,000 people each night. If tickets remain, they will be sold at the entrance.
salem tuba holiday
Join us for the Salem Tuba Holiday, an annual Christmas Eve tradition featuring baritone horn, euphonium, tuba, and sousaphone at the Elsinore Theater.
The noon show on Dec. 24 will feature arrangements of popular Christmas carols and holiday songs performed by musicians from across the Northwest.
Jeff Witt is featured as the vocalist, with John Skelton leading the tuba. A projector displays lyrics and supports audience members participating as a community holiday choir.
Tickets are $10 in advance on the Elsinore website and $15 the day of the show.Doors open at 11am
Holiday Events at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel
Join the Carousel crew for an event filled with holiday activities, including a visit with Santa, photo ops, meet-and-greets with superheroes, and more.
Submit your letter to Santa online or in person at the carousel between now and December 15th and you’ll receive a personal letter from Jolly St. Nick.
Visit the Carousel website for the complete schedule. Some events require reservations.
Silverton Christmas Market
The Silverton Christmas Market at the Oregon Garden will feature 1 million holiday lights through December 31st.
The event will close on December 24th and 25th and will feature Santa, live music and carols, an artisan street market, and festive food and drink.
Admission prices vary by day of the week, but range from $15 to $20 for adults and $5 to $8 for children. Silverton residents can receive a $2 discount when they present proof of residency. Children 5 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased online.
Separate parking is required, but there are shuttle pickup locations at Robert Frost Elementary School, Silverton High School, and downtown Silverton. For more information, please visit the ticket purchase page on our website.
The market is a cashless event and all food, drink and vendor purchases require a debit or credit card.
Magic of Light at the Oregon State Fairgrounds
Cruise through the Oregon State Fairgrounds through December 31st to see the drive-thru Magic of Light. Over a mile of light displays bring your favorite holiday scenes and characters to life.
The show, produced by Family Entertainment Holdings, makes its Salem debut and features a larger-than-life sparkling holiday Barbie display, a super-sized Bigfoot monster truck, and a life-size prehistoric Christmas dinosaur.
Business hours are Monday to Thursday from 5:30pm to 9pm and Friday to Sunday from 5:30pm to 10pm.
Admission fees range from $30 to $40 per regular vehicle with three rows of seats or less, depending on the day. Vehicles over 20 feet in length and buses of any size are not permitted. Tickets can be purchased online. We recommend purchasing in advance for easier admission.
Capi Lynn is a senior reporter at the Statesman Journal. Send your comments, questions and tips to clynn@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and her Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.
Whitney Woodworth covers cities and development for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to him at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com or follow him on Twitter. @wm Woodworth.