Ghost Walk: East Hill Cemetery: The Salem Museum’s Ghost Walk is set to return on Oct. 5-7. Tours will leave the museum every 15 minutes from 6-8 p.m. A sign language interpreter will join the 6 p.m. tour each evening. “East Hill Cemetery comes alive after dark just once a year for the Ghost Walk, a family-friendly event,” the museum said. “Tour the historic graveyard and meet notable characters from Salem’s past.” Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students of any age and free for children age 3 and younger. Tickets can be found online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ghost-walk-east-hill-cemetery-2023-tickets-708771212777?aff=erelexpmlt
Business Advocacy – 2024 Economic Forecast with Alice Louise Kassens: The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce will hold the event in the Cregger Athletic Center on the campus of Roanoke College at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11. With a wealth of expertise, Dr. Kassens will deliver a nuanced analysis of the upcoming economic landscape for our region and for the state. Dr. Kassens will provide a comprehensive outlook that will leave attendees enlightened and equipped to navigate the intricate currents of the year ahead.
Roanoke College Invitational Cross Country Race: The race will be at Green Hill Park on Oct. 13.
Salem Half Marathon: The races start at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14. Participants will navigate Main Street, the Greenway, Roanoke College campus, YMCA and Taliaferro Complex, as well as various neighborhoods. More information can be found at salemhalfmarathon.com.
CIAA Cross Country Championships: The event will be at Green Hill Park on Oct. 26
Pumpkinfest: Pumpkinfest, returns on Friday night, Oct. 27, at the Salem Farmers Market. This year’s event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and it will once again feature a costume contest and pumpkin give-away. Plus, all attendees can walk through our “Chefs vs. Surgeons” Jack O’ Lantern patch, vote for their favorite carved pumpkin and later bid on it in the pumpkin auction. In addition, children can buy tickets for carnival games and inflatables, stroll through the trick-or-treat zone, get their face painted and enjoy sand art and a bake sale. This is 23rd year that Salem has joined forces with Q99 to present this event in Downtown Salem. Pumpkinfest admission for adults is just $5 a person, but children 15-and-under will be admitted free. Dale’s Diner, The Tailgate, Kettle Cooker Express and Sweet Surrender Ice Cream will be selling their amazing creations throughout the evening. Once again, Five-Dollar Shake will provide musical entertainment. All proceeds from the event will benefit Area 8 Special Olympics. Q99, Kroger and Salem Parks and Recreation are sponsoring this year’s event and Q99’s Dick and Dave once again will host the fall celebration. The Salem Farmers Market is located on the corner of Main and Broad Street in the heart of Downtown Salem. Salem is hosting several other exciting events for those in Virginia’s Blue Ridge region during this week.
Trick-or-Treat with the Downtown Merchants: Youngsters will have a chance to Trick-or-Treat with the Downtown Merchants on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon. Children can travel up and down Main Street from Academy St. to College Ave. Businesses that have a pumpkin sticker on their storefront window are participating. In addition, the Salem Sheriff’s Office’s Fall Open House is happening from 10 a.m. to noon at 2 E. Calhoun Street.
ODAC Cross Country Championships: The event will be at Green Hill Park on Oct. 28.
Big South Conference Cross Country Championships: The event will be at Green Hill Park on Oct. 29.
DMV2Go: DMV2Go will be at the Salem Civic Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 30
Trunk-or-Treat: On the actual Halloween night, the Salem Civic Center is hosting a Trunk-or-Treat event in partnership with the Paw Patrol Show. This will take place in the front parking lot at 1001 Roanoke Boulevard on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Traditional neighborhood Trick-or-Treating will take place citywide in Salem on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure”: The event will be at the Salem Civic Center Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $42.
Do Values Matter?: The event will be on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wortmann Ballroom in the Colket Center. Join the Center for Policy, Ethics, and Law for an evening with Mark Quiner. Mark Quiner is an experienced group facilitator with over 40 years of experience. He currently serves as director of NCSL’s Center for Ethics in Government, whose mission is to restore trust and confidence in representative government by promoting responsible behavior in legislatures and educating the public on the importance of the legislative process.
Previously, Quiner was the acting director of the Wyoming Legislative Service Office, where he served for 26 years. Following law school at the University of Wyoming, he worked for Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice C. Stuart Brown, then served as the state’s assistant attorney general. This event is free and open to the public. To register, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/do-values-matter-tickets-675428884977
Theory of a Deadman and Skillet: The bands will perform at the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $40.50.
DMV2Go: DMV2Go will be at the Salem Civic Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Nov. 27.
Mannheim Steamroller: Chip Davis, founder and creator of Mannheim Steamroller, will celebrate over 35 Years of his annual Christmas concert tour during a Sunday, Dec. 3 performance at 7 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center. It is the longest running concert tour in the entertainment industry. Tickets can be found at the Salem Civic Center Box Office or online at Ticketmaster.com.
DMV2Go: DMV2Go will be at the Salem Civic Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Dec. 18.
Riley Green & Tracy Lawrence: Riley Green, the Academy of Country Music’s new male artist of the year in 2020, is set to make his first appearance at the Salem Civic Center. Green will be joined by Tracy Lawrence and opening act Ella Langley when he hits the arena’s historic stage on March 7, 2024. Tickets can be purchased at the Salem Civic Center Box Office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and online anytime at www.ticketmaster.com
Dustin Lynch: “Kill the Cowboy” tour: Country musician Dustin Lynch will perform at the Salem Civic Center on Friday, April 12, 2024, as part of his “Killed the Cowboy” tour with special guest Skeez. Tickets start at $35.50 and go on sale on Friday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. Lynch first appeared in Salem in 2015 when he starred on the final day of the Blue Ridge Music Festival at Salem Stadium. He was just starting to crank out hit songs back then, but he now has eight No. 1 songs, four top-5 albums, 10 gold and platinum certified singles, and he has tallied over 5.4 billion cumulative global streams. His sixth studio album, “Killed The Cowboy,” is set for release on Sept. 29.
Public meetings:
The Salem City Council will meet on Monday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem City School Board will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.
The Salem City Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
The Salem City Council will meet on Monday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem City Council will meet on Monday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem City School Board will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
The Salem City Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
The Salem City Council will meet on Monday, Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem City Council will meet on Monday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
The Salem City School Board will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
The Salem City Planning Commission will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.