Top Salem Oregon Holiday Traditions by The Grand Hotel in Salem in Salem, OR

The holiday season is here and there is always something special happening in Oregon's capital city. If you are traveling to our region this holiday season, here are some of our favorite local holiday traditions. 1-Tasting wine at the Wine Country Thanksgiving- Many Mid-Willamette Valley wineries will host open houses, special events and entertainment over Thanksgiving weekend! This is a great way to visit smaller wineries that may not regularly be open to the public. Click here for a list of events. 2- Exploring Christmas in the Garden- The Oregon Garden, in Silverton, Oregon, will host Christmas in the Garden from Nov. 29-Jan. 5. This charming, European-inspired event features one million Christmas lights, ice skating, snowless tubing, a traditional German Christmas market, festive music and more! Tickets are required. 3- Watching Santa Arrives Aboard the Carousel Express- Santa is making a trip to Salem's Riverfront Carousel on Nov. 29. Warm up with hot cocoa, visit with Santa and enjoy carousel rides throughout the day. Free Carousel Rides On Christmas Day, enjoy free, unlimited carousel rides at Salem's Riverfront Carousel. Please consider bringing non-perishable or canned foods to donate to the Marion-Polk Food Share. 4- Celebrating the holidays at the Oregon State Capitol-This year's festivities will kick off December 3rd with the annual tree lighting ceremony starting at 5 p.m. There will also be multiple holiday events including free musical performances and festive decorations in the Rotunda through December 21. Schedules vary, click here to see the daily schedule of events. 5- Visting Salem's Riverfront Park- Nestled along the iconic Willamette River, Salem's Riverfront Park is especially festive during the holiday season with family-friendly events like the 24th Annual Riverfront Park Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Salem's Riverfront Carousel hosts an entire series of holiday events starting with Photos & Visits with Santa at the Carousel on Nov 29th! Click here to see the full schedule. 6- Tax-Free Holiday Shopping- Find the perfect gifts for your loved ones at the area's three major shopping centers. Salem Center and Willamette Town Center are both located in Salem and are in close proximity to other downtown retail stores. Woodburn Premium Outlets is located 25 minutes from Salem and boasts more than 100 stores. 7- Discovering holiday magic at the Willamette Heritage Center- This Salem, Oregon treasure will once again host Magic at the Mill December 19th- 23rd featuring a stunning display of exciting holiday lights. The event will feature children's activities, thousands of twinkling lights, tours of historic buildings, demonstrations, seasonal treats and shopping. Tickets are required. 8- Holiday Entertainment at Elsinore Theatre- Downtown Salem's historic Elsinore theatre will be hosting all of your favorite holiday movies this season along with live performances of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Story. Find more info at www.etix.com/ticket. 9- Shopping at Salem Holiday Market- 250 vendors with handmade, handcrafted or homegrown products will be at the State Fairgrounds December 13th- 15th 2019. Once you've found something for everyone on your list, be sure to visit Santa's Village, enter the Gingerbread House and Tree Decorating Contests, enjoy LIVE music food and more! 10- Outdoor Ice Skating! Salem on Ice Salem on Ice, downtown Salem's seasonal, outdoor ice skating rink, is open every day through Jan. 21 at Riverfront Park. The rink will offer extended hours on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Eve. 11- Going back in time at Deepwood Museum and Gardens- Visit Deepwood this holiday season during our annual Holiday Open Houses on Sunday, December 1st and Sunday, December 8th from 1 to 4 pm both days. Deepwood Museum and Gardens- designed by noted Northwest architect W.C. Knighton and built during the 1890s by Dr. Luke Port, is a gabled Queen Anne with enchanting gardens designed by the Northwest's first female landscape architecture firm, Lord & Schryver. Holiday Market on Saturday, December 7th and Sunday, December 8th from 9 AM to 4 PM. 12- Listening to music at Willamette University. The Willamette University Music Department is exploring the historic roots of the Christmas season through a holiday concert on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5 and 6, 2019. The noncommercial presentation takes place in the ornately decorated Hudson Hall within the Rogers Music Center. It begins at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. 13- Shopping for treasures at the Salem Art Association Holiday Showcase- This annual, gift-themed exhibition is already underway and is the perfect one-stop-shop for unique gifts. More than 50 artists will be selling traditional art, plus jewelry, ceramics, textiles, tree ornaments, greeting cards, and more at the Bush Barn Art Center. 14- Enjoy some quality time with the family at the 42nd annual Silver Falls Christmas Festival - Enjoy crafts, live music, free refreshments, wreath making, a visit from Santa Claus, holiday lights, and winter hikes at the Silver Falls Christmas Festival December 15, 2019 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Heading to Salem for the holidays? The Grand Hotel in Salem, Oregon features 193 luxurious and comfortable rooms and premier suites. Headquarters hotel for the Salem Convention Center, Our goal is to make your visit to Salem, Oregon as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. If you need more information or ideas, our friendly and gracious front of house staff is always happy to help point you in the right direction. You can also visit Travel Salem and request a free visitor's guide. Click here to book your stay.