Downtown Salem is lush with shopping, food (over 40 restaurants), music venues, movie theaters, art galleries and more.  There are numerous world class wineries just a short drive away.

Here are just a few of the event highlights we hope our guests will take advantage of this Fall!   Please visit Travel Salem and Go Downtown Salem for complete local event listings

September Downtown Salem, Oregon Events

September 4 | 4pm-Close
Birds, Bugs & Brews
Brown’s Towne Lounge
189 Liberty St.
Artshow & Fundraiser for Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center
Featuring artwork by Kat Houseman and Verity Kent. Beer from McMenamen’s Brewer Jen Turner. Silent Auction and Live Music.

September 9 | 7pm
Progressive Film Series: Beyond Motor City
At the Historic Grand Theatre
191 High Street NE
Admission: Adults $3 / Students $2
Over the last 30 years, much of the world has moved on, choosing faster, cleaner, more modern transportation and leaving America – and Detroit – behind. Congress will soon decide whether to finally push America’s transportation into the 21st century.
www.salemprogressivefilms.net

September 24
Cultivating Creativity 2010: Art About Agriculture
Mission Mill Museum
An art exhibit featuring works by artists who live, or have lived, in Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. This exhibition is done in cooperation with Oregon State University and its “Art About Agriculture” collection. Continues through December, 2010. Free with Museum Admission

Every Wednesday | 5-8pm
Wednesday Wine Tasting 
Grand Vines 
195 High St NE (Corner of High & Court) 
www.grandvines.com

Every Wednesday | 11am-2pm
Farmers’ Market 
Chemeketa Street (between Liberty and High St)

All Month
Oregon Artists Series Exhibit 
Salem Conference Center 
Event Info: 503 589-1700 
www.salemconferencecenter.org

Salem, Oregon Annual Events September

Salem’s First Wednesday
Downtown Salem
503-480-1111
www.gofirstwednesday.info

Wednesday Farmer’s Market
Downtown Salem
503-585-8264
www.salemsaturdaymarket.com

Salem Saturday Market
Downtown Salem
503-585-8264
www.salemsaturdaymarket.com

Silverton Farmers Market
Town Square Park, Silverton
503-390-7276

Independence Farmers Market
Sterling Bank Parking Lot, Independence
503-838-5424

Garden Gala
Historic Deepwood Estate, Salem
503-363-1825
www.historicdeepwoodestate.org

Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Baseball
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes Stadium, Keizer
503-390-2225
www.volcanoesbaseball.com

Dazzling Dahlias
Frey’s Dahlias, Turner
503-743-3910
www.freysdahlias.com

Oregon State Fair
Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem
503-947-3247
www.oregonstatefair.org

Champoeg Pioneer Farmstead Day
Donald Mason Farmstead, St. Paul
503-678-1251 x221
www.oregonstateparks.org

Labor Day Sidewalk Sale
Woodburn Company Stores, Woodburn
503-981-1900 or 888-664-SHOP
www.shop-woodburn.com

Redhawk Winery Wine Tasting
Redhawk Winery, Salem
503-362-1596
www.redhawkwine.com

Cherry Hill Winery Labor Day Weekend Open House
Cherry Hill Winery, Rickreall
503-623-7867
www.cherryhillwinery.com

Labor Day Weekend at Cubanisimo Vineyards
Cubanisimo Vineyards, Salem
503-588-1763
www.cubanisimovineyards.com

Outdoor Car Show
The Oregon Garden, Silverton
503-874-8100 or 877-674-2733
www.oregongarden.org

Annual Sublimity Harvest Festival
Sublimity Harvest Festival Grounds, Sublimity
503-769-3579
www.sublimityharvestfest.org

Mount Angel Oktoberfest
Downtown Mount Angel
503-845-9440
www.oktoberfest.org

Le Tour des Plants
North Willamette Valley Region
www.letourdesplants.com

Annual Antique Faire
Historic Deepwood Estate, Salem
503-363-1825
www.historicdeepwoodestate.org

AAA Member Appreciation Day
Woodburn Company Stores, Woodburn
503-981-1900 or 888-664-SHOP
www.shop-woodburn.com

The Oregon Grape Stomp Championship and Harvest Festival
Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner
800-344-9463
www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com

Hop and Heritage Festival
Downtown Independence
503-838-4051
www.independencehopandheritage.com

Cooks Tour
Fairmount Hill, Salem
503-364-8318
www.assistanceleaguesalem.org

Annual Salem Oregon Events: October

Oregon Wedding Showcase
Oregon State Fairgrounds (Jackman-Long Building), Salem
503-838-2226
www.oregonweddingshowcase.com or www.oregonstateexpo.org

Salem’s First Wednesday
Downtown Salem
503-480-1111
www.gofirstwednesday.info

Wednesday Farmer’s Market
Downtown Salem
503-585-8264
www.salemsaturdaymarket.com

Salem Saturday Market
Downtown Salem
503-585-8264
www.salemsaturdaymarket.com

Silverton Farmers Market
Town Square Park, Silverton
503-390-7276

Independence Farmers Market
Sterling Bank Parking Lot, Independence
503-838-5424

Dazzling Dahlias
Frey’s Dahlias, Turner
503-743-3910
www.freysdahlias.com

French Prairie Gardens Harvest Festival
French Prairie Gardens, St. Paul
503-633-8445
www.FPGardens.com

Quiltopia & Quilt Show
Various locations, Salem
503-363-7973
www.quiltedforest.com

Handweaver’s Sale
Mission Mill Museum, part of Willamette Heritage Center, Salem
503-585-7012 ext. 225
www.missionmill.org

Champoeg Apple Harvest Day
Donald Mason Farmstead, St. Paul
503-678-1251 x221
www.oregonstateparks.org

Salem Film Festival
Downtown Salem
www.salemfilmfestival.com

Chef’s Night Out
Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner
503-581-3855
www.WillametteValleyVineyards.com
www.marionpolkfoodshare.org

Annual Quilt Show
Old Aurora Colony Museum, Aurora
503-678-5754
www.auroracolonymuseum.com

Annual Harvest Festival & Pumpkin Merriment
A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village, Salem
503-371-3631 or 800-208-9514
www.acgilbert.org

Salem Home & Remodeling Show
Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem
503-364-1716 or 800-537-9396
www.WVPevents.com

Visually discover the Salem, Oregon area’s unique experiences that will transform your “Reel virtual” visit into a “Real time” visit. These lively “experiences” will help you discover the real you. Are you a Family Voyager, Naturalist, Adventure Seeker, Gourmand, Relaxer or a Culture Seeker? Find out!

Check Out:

Travel Salem
181 High St. NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
503-581-4325
800-874-7012
www.travelsalem.com

Detroit Lake Recreation Area
PO Box 574 (mailing)
Detroit, Oregon 97342
www.detroitlakeoregon.org

Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
44000 N Santiam Hwy. SE
Detroit, OR 97342
503-854-3346
800-452-5687 (camping reservations)
800-551-6949 (hours)
www.oregonstateparks.org

Hoodoo Ski Area
Hwy 20, Box 20
Sisters, OR 97759
541-822-3799
www.hoodoo.com

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
503-947-6000
800-720-ODFW
www.dfw.state.or.us/

Silver Falls State Park
20024 Silver Falls Hwy. SE
Sublimity, OR 97385
503-873-8681
800-452-5687 (camping reservations)
800-551-6949 (hours)
www.oregonstateparks.org

Willamette National Forest
541-225-6300
www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/

The Annual Oregon Artists Series will be Displayed throughout the first floor of the SCC

The Mayor’s Oregon Artists Series is an annual art exhibit displayed in the first floor gallery of the Salem Conference Center. The Fourth Annual Oregon Artists Series exhibit will open July 15 at the SCC and will feature contemporary paintings, prints, and mixed media work from artists throughout the state of Oregon and is presented by the Salem Conference Center and the Oregon Artists Series Foundation.  The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The Salem Conference Center (adjoining our hotel) will launch this year’s exhibit with a Opening Reception (ticketed event) featuring the artists on Wednesday  July 14,  2010 from 5:30-7:30pm. The reception will have Lavish hors d’oeuvres, live jazz, and special preview of 2010–2011 Oregon Artists Series Exhibit. Tickets to the Opening Reception can be purchase d($25)  at the SCC Admin office during regular business hours (Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm); and online.

Each year, one of the artist’s works is is awarded the  prestigious Mayor’s Purchase Award where the piece is purchased and becomes a part of the Salem Conference Center’s permanent collection.

Artists interested in being invited for next year’s show is welcome to email their information and an image of a piece to admin@salemconferencecenter.org.  For more information, please call (503) 589-1700.

4th Annual Oregon Artists Series Participating Artists

Jay Backstrand

Rob Bibler

Frank Boyden

Jonathan Bucci

Priscilla Carrasco

Margaret Coe

Jon Jay Cruson

Annegret Disterheft

Carol Hausser

Bonnie Hull

George Johanson

Mary Josephson

Kristin Kuhns

Nancy Lindburg

Sue-Del McCulloch

Terry Melton

Paul Missal

Dave Nichols

Alexandra Opie

Hank Pander

Lucinda Parker

Jodie Raborn

Sandra Sloy Nichols

Stephan Soihl

Jed Thomas

Susan Trueblood Stuart

John VanDreal

April Waters

Harry Widman

Sherrie Wolf

Phylis Yes

Downtown is the place to find events, entertainment, premiere shops and specialty boutiques, restaurants, coffee bars, and wine! In fact- we have 120 shops, galleries, theatres, restaurants, salons, entertainment, historic buildings just steps away.  Download this map of Downtown Salem and do a walking tour of downtown to see for yourself!   We also recommend visiting Go Downtown Salem for current events and featured businesses in downtown.

The Reed Opera House is one of the many historical landmarks in Downtown Salem

Other nearby places of interest:

• Riverfront Park
• State Capitol
• Carousel
• Elsinore Theatre
• AC Gilbert House
• Hallie Ford Art Museum

Be sure to bring your camera and we invite you to share your photos/experiences on our Facebook page!

• Accommodations in one of our luxurious Grand Hotel Suites: 480 sq. ft. with living room separated from the bedroom by central bath and wet bar;
• Dinner for Two at Bentley’s Grill (a $75 value): Our on-site restaurant features the finest in Northwest Cuisine and one of Willamette Valley’s grandest wine selections.
• Movie passes for two; these are valid at any one of Salem’s Regal Cinema Movie Theatres:
  Regal Cinemas Santiam Cinema 11 (1.2 miles away): 365 Lancaster Drive SE, Salem, OR (800) 326-3264 -OR- Regal Lancaster Mall Stadium 11 (1.5 miles away) 831 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, OR  (503)371-3456
• Complimentary continental breakfast buffet the next morning and a late check out of 1 pm so you have time to stroll and take in the many shops and galleries located downtown.

For more information and to book this experience; visit our site!  You can see other Grand Hotel in Salem Packages that might be the perfect fit for your getaway!

Find out which Reel experience suite you the best! Visit www.TravelSalem.com and view!

The Statesman Journal announced this week winners of the annual  Best Of The Mid-Valley Online Poll- and we were thrilled to see our very own Bentley’s Grill receive some of honors from our community!

Bentley’s Grill is the gold medal winner in the Best Creative Cocktails and Best Business Lunch and Best Happy Hour categories. We also made it onto the Top 3 list for Best Appetizers in the Mid Valley!

Here is an excerpt from their article about the poll published this week!   Thank you everyone for casting your votes!

Keeping customers happy is also on the mind of management at Bentley’s Grill, gold medal winner of Best Creative Cocktails and Best Business Lunch. Bentley’s also earned a gold medal for Best Happy Hour in the Entertainment category.

Resident mixologist Soraida Cross said she’s always on the lookout for new trends and ingredients for her signature cocktails. “I enjoy trying new drinks and generally put my own spin on them, experiment at home and at work. I look for trends and try to do my own version of those things. I read a lot of magazines,” she said.

“Most of all, I listen to the customers — feedback from customers is the most helpful to me.”

Customers rave about Bentley’s Flirtini, a mix of strawberry vodka, Cointreau, pineapple and cranberry juices, finished with a float of champagne, and the house Lemon Drop. “I have heard multiple times that we have the best Lemon Drop in town,” Cross said.

Last summer Bentley’s introduced Lounge Lizard Mondays as part of its daily Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m. The restaurant promotes it via Facebook, Twitter and the Internet, and customers flock in to try the two specialty cocktails Cross creates, each priced at $4.

“Couples can come in and have the drink special and share a few appetizers for around $20,” she said. But you won’t find mozzarella sticks and jalapeno poppers here. Chef Derek Ridgeway’s menu tends toward fresh, local ingredients, whipping up Thai chicken satay, sake-marinated Ahi tuna, Dungeness crab cakes, and daily flatbread and salad creations, all reasonably priced.

Spend an afternoon on one of our glorious local gardens: Salem, Oregon and surrounding communities are filled with many choices of scenic and lush gardens.  Several of the nurseries and gardens in Salem will be open to the public beginning May 1.  See this video highlighting Adelman Peony Gardens with their many varieties of lovely peonies (and bring your camera if you go!!).  For a complete list of the gardens and the festivals in our area, check out Travel Salem’s List of Gardens

Go to First Wednesday on May 5: First Wednesday is Salem’s favorite evening event, always scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month throughout the year. Events and activities are scheduled for 5 PM to 8 PM.   The First Wednesday in May just happens to fall on Cinco de Mayo!

Check out the Silverton Wine & Jazz Festival on May 8: Wine lovers will love this event!  Celebrate fine Oregon wines of the Willamette Valley Wine Region at The Fourth Annual Silverton Wine & Jazz Festival. Tickets are just $25 and proceeds go back to benefit this lovely historic community.

Buy Local and Fresh Products: The popular Salem Saturday Market is Back!   The Wednesday Farmers Market will open again on May 5!  The markets will be open through October of 2010.  For details and a list of vendors visit www.salemsaturdaymarket.com.

Visit a Local Vineyard Over Memorial Day Weekend: Local Wineries throughout Salem and Oregon will be hosting an Open House for Memorial Day Weekend. This event is so big- we will be posting more information about this in the coming weeks.  In the meantime- mark your calendars and check out Travel Salem’s list of local wineries for details or call 503-581-4325 or 800-874-7012 for info.

More events and attractions to include on your calendar from of our friends at Travel Salem:

May

Peony & Iris Flower Farm in Bloom
Brooks Gardens
503-393-7999
www.brooksgardens.com

Salem’s First Wednesday
Downtown Salem
503-480-1111
www.gofirstwednesday.info

Iris Gardens open to public
Schreiner’s Gardens, Salem
503-393-3232
www.schreinersgardens.com

Wednesday Farmer’s Market
Downtown Salem
503-585-8264
www.salemsaturdaymarket.com

Silverton Wine & Jazz Festival
Main & Oak Streets, Downtown Silverton
503-873-5615
www.silvertonwineandjazz.com

Polk Home and Garden Show
Polk County Fairgrounds, Rickreall,
503-428-8224
www.polkhomeandgardenshow.com

Salem Saturday Market
Downtown Salem
503-585-8264
www.salemsaturdaymarket.com

Silverton Farmers Market
Town Square Park, Silverton
503-390-7276

Independence Farmers Market
Sterling Bank Parking Lot, Independence
503-838-5424

Peony Paradise
Adelman Peony Gardens, Salem
503-393-6185
www.peonyparadise.com

Peony & Iris Flower Farm in Bloom
Brooks Gardens, Brooks
503-393-7999
www.brooksgardens.com

Champoeg Founders Day
Champoeg Visitor Center, Saint Paul
503-678-1251 ext. 221
www.oregonstateparks.org

Mother’s Day at the Iris Garden
Schreiner’s Gardens, Salem
503-393-3232
www.schreinersgardens.com

Mother’s Day Brunch
Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner
503-371-7815 or 1-800-344-9463
www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com

Silver Falls Mother’s Day Wildflower and Birding Festival
South Falls Lodge - Silver Falls, Sublimity
503-873-8735
www.oregonstateparks.org

Keizer Iris Festival
Keizer Station, Keizer, OR
(Conveniently located right next to the I-5 freeway. Exit 260B)
503-393-9111
www.irisfestival.com

Annual Sheep to Shawl Festival
Mission Mill Museum, part of Willamette Heritage Center, Salem
503-585-7012
www.missionmill.org

Silverton Pet Parade
Coolidge & Main Streets, Silverton
503-873-5615
www.silvertonchamber.org

Season Opener
Woodburn Dragstrip, Woodburn
503-982-4461
www.woodburndragstrip.com

Cooley’s Garden’s Anniversary
Cooley’s Iris Garden, Silverton
503-873-5463
www.cooleysgardens.com

Memorial Day Sidewalk Sale
Woodburn Company Stores, Woodburn
503-981-1900 or 888-664-SHOP
www.shop-woodburn.com

Memorial Day Weekend at Cubanisimo Vineyards
Cubanisimo Vineyards, Salem
503-588-1763
www.cubanisimovineyards.com

Wineries Memorial Day Weekend Open House
Various wineries in the Willamette Valley
503-581-4325 or 800-874-7012

Memorial Weekend Open House
Redhawk Winery, Salem
503-362-1596
www.redhawkwine.com

Memorial Weekend Open House
Cherry Hill Winery, Rickreall
503-623-7867
www.cherryhillwinery.com

Memorial Weekend Open House
Cristom Vineyards, Salem
503-375-3068
www.cristomwines.com

Memorial Weekend Open House
Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner
503-588-9463 or 800-344-9463
www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com

East Willamette Valley Wine Tour
East Willamette Valley Vineyards and Wineries
503-651-3190
www.eastvalleywine.com

Chicken BBQ & Capital City Jazz Band
Schreiner’s Gardens, Salem
503-393-3232 or 800-525-2367
www.schreinersgardens.com

These gorgeous photos posted on their Facebook page yesterday say it all.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival Ends April 25!

The Reed Opera House

We were thrilled to see a recent article published on Oregon.com that highlights the Pringle Creek Tour- a wonderful walking tour that highlights the rich history and beauty of downtown Salem, Oregon.  In his article, History, Nature and Workout, Patrick Johnson gives some excellent tips to taking full advantage of this on-foot adventure.

The Pringle Creek Tour can be downloaded from the Salem Heritage Network site (a wonderful source for information on the history and culture of Salem, Oregon) along with several other walking tours.  The self guided tour starts at our hotel, and makes its way through beautiful downtown parks, and past historical landmarks such as the Reed Opera House and more.

Now that the weather is warming up- we hope you will find some time to take this tour during your next visit to Salem, Oregon!

From the Oregon.com article History, Nature and Workout:

About the walk: Pringle Creek and Sheldon Ditch walk takes a route that is 2.8 miles long and starts from downtown Salem and winds through several of the parks and historic areas of the city. It literally has something for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, from Oregon birds, to nice park settings, to unique architectures of bridges and buildings. The walk also goes through the several of the historic districts of Salem, so if you take a script with you there are many lessons to be learned about how the area developed.

What to bring: It’s Oregon and it’s outdoors. Make sure you bring weather appropriate clothing, comfortable walking shoes and water. While 2.8 miles doesn’t have a lot of difficult hills, there are one or two stair cases along the way – but this walk can be navigated by bike, wheelchair or even stroller. To get the most out of the walk, make sure to print off the self-guided tour script where you can also find more history about Salem. There are many picturesque settings, so bring that digital camera for some wonderful shots of Oregon no matter what time of year you visit.

Season: You can take the walk year round – depending on your tolerance for being in the weather. If you don’t mind getting wet or cold, this tour can be taken any time. I went on the tour during a crispy February day between rain showers and it was very pleasant and informative.