Viva Salem Hispanic festival returns to Riverfront Park: What to know

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.

Admission is free thanks to sponsors and a city Culture and Tourism grant.

Performances will include:

• Noon: Enlace Cross Cultural Dance/Danza, folkloric dances from Mexico, Central and South America.
• 12:50 p.m.: Noche Cultural Charrería , known as the national sport of Mexico, this group brings to life rope tricks and folkloric dances.
• 2 p.m.: Casa de la Cultura Tlanese Folkloric , a community that upholds values, culture and traditions through traditional Mexican dance.
• 3 p.m.: A Cara O Cruz Band , a Latin band with influences from rock and cumbia.
• 4 p.m.: Dina y Los Rumberos , Cuban and international music such as salsa, guaracha, bolero, merengue and cumbia, among others.
• 5 p.m.: Grupo Mparable , a local group of young men who share their musical talent through regional Mexican music.

More information is available at bit.ly/47JynTo

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com , call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Viva Salem Hispanic festival returns to Riverfront Park: What to know