SALEM, Ore. — On Sunday, August 31, 2025, Riverfront Park hosted the fourth annual Punx in the Park festival, drawing over 1,000 attendees. The nonprofit Punx With Purpose hosted the free, all-ages event, which combined the raucous energy of punk music with direct outreach by providing more than 50 community resource booths for at-risk youth, food, and clothing.
The festival’s move to the larger Riverfront venue from its original home at Marion Square Park reflected its steady growth since launching in 2021. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the grounds became a hub of music, art and social services, complete with live performances from five youth-selected bands, including headliner Bazooka Sharkz. Attendees picked up free school supplies, clothing and shoes, while also accessing information from local nonprofits and agencies.
For founder and CEO Hailey Kelley, the event grew out of her own life. When asked what first sparked the idea, she said she started Punx in the Park “because there was no resource targeted for youth. Having experienced homelessness myself, I understood how they must feel and wanted to help them.” Kelley explained that although she never identified as a punk herself, she grew up surrounded by that culture and saw how it created a sense of belonging. “I grew up around punks, although I’m not a punk myself. That community offered acceptance to those who felt out of place—and I knew that spirit would resonate with youth who feel overlooked,” she said…