Salem’s Viva Salem festival celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month returns Saturday at Riverfront Park.
The free, family-friendly event will feature live music, performances, food vendors, crafts and activities.
The first festival’s success in 2023 spurred the city to bring it back this year.
Irma Coleman, Salem’s neighborhood program coordinator, told the Statesman Journal last year the event titled “¡Viva Salem! Todos Unidos,” meaning “all united,” was intended to bring the entire community together to celebrate an important part of its culture.
Salem’s population is about 22% Hispanic, according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
City officials said it is their goal to amplify the contributions of the Hispanic community and celebrate the diversity that is one of Salem’s important building blocks.
Saturday’s festival will run from noon to 6 p.m. and include a resource fair, free, family-friendly crafts where people can make clay creations along with live music, food vendors and dance performances.