By Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Downtown Salem once again transformed into an open-air marketplace as Olde Salem Days celebrated its 45th year on Saturday, Sept. 13. With clear weather and a record number of vendors, organizers said this year resulted in one of the best turnouts in event history.
The annual arts and crafts festival ran from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and featured more than 300 exhibitors from across the United States. Admission was free, and parking with shuttle service was available from the Salem Civic Center to downtown.
Food trucks, live music and family-friendly entertainment were set up at the Salem Farmers Market, while car enthusiasts enjoyed the event’s auto show. Visitors strolled through historic downtown, with its views of Roanoke College and landmarks such as Salem’s churches and civic buildings.
Event organizers estimated the turnout at more than 15,000 people.
“We were hoping for about 10,000 people, and it’s hard to gauge without entrance queues, but we were thinking we were probably over 15,000 people,” said Rotary Club of Salem President Matt Schottmiller. “Olde Salem Days was an outstanding success. We had more vendors than we’ve ever had.”
Schottmiller credited several factors for the strong attendance, including the festival’s long tradition, favorable weather and local energy around the upcoming election season. “It’s an event that’s been going on for 40-plus years, so of course we’ve got history there. But the good weather is the biggest blessing,” he said.
This year’s festival also marked a significant change in how vendors registered. “The biggest change that we did this year was that we changed everything from more of a physical format to a digital format, so that way people who are digitally inclined who are vendors can pay online, which they could not do before,” Schottmiller said. “They could also reserve their space early, which a lot of vendors liked because they want their same spot year after year.”
Schottmiller said vendor feedback was overwhelmingly positive. “This was either the best event for them or the second best event for them,” he said.
Even with the improvements, organizers plan to make adjustments moving forward. “The new registration thing had a few bumps that we’ll massage out,” Schottmiller said. “Some vendors didn’t quite get it or didn’t read the email. And of course, change is hard inherently. But it was needed.”
Parking remains a challenge, particularly for employees of downtown businesses who struggle to find spaces during the event. Schottmiller said the Rotary will look into ways to better accommodate them in future years.
For Schottmiller, ensuring that all stakeholders—from businesses and vendors to nonprofits and attendees—benefit from Olde Salem Days is key. “Joe’s Deli is just as important as the vendors, just as important as the nonprofits that work the event,” he said. “So there are so many people that we have to get input from and figure out what we do better next time.”
The Rotary Club of Salem organizes Olde Salem Days each year, with members volunteering their time to stage the event. Proceeds go to both international and local causes.
“All the proceeds either get put back into Rotary International, like fighting polio and bringing water resources to underprivileged people around the world,” Schottmiller said. “But most of the money actually stays here in the Valley. We give away money from the club to food banks, we do Christmas for Kids. So most of it comes back into the valley.”
