This week in Salem, get some early trick-or-treating done at Chemeketa Community College, listen as Willamette University students perform a concert or spend a day at a Celtic festival filled with activities.  Here’s the lineup of Salem events for the week from Thursday, Oct. 17, to Wednesday, Oct. 23. Browse all of Salem Reporter’s events coverage here.  *Starred events are free to attend, although they may include ticketed components or a suggested donation. Local civic engagement *Thursday, Oct. 17: Spend the night learning more about local civic engagement efforts and the people, businesses and organizations that contribute to the community. Salem City Club is hosting the event which will feature some of the state politicians involved in civic engagement, such as state Rep. Paul Evans, the event’s keynote speaker, and state Rep. Kevin Mannix.  The event takes place in the Spinning Room at the Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. S.E. and goes from 6-7 p.m., doors will open at 5:30 p.m. More information about the event, along with the link to RSVP, is available on the event’s page.  Celtic New Year Festival Saturday, Oct. 19: Take in Celtic culture at the annual Gaelic festival to celebrate the Celtic New Year. The Samhain Celtic New Year festival marks the start of winter, which is recognized in Celtic tradition on Nov. 1. The festival will be a day full of live music, food, workshops and hands-on activities for people to learn more about Celtic culture and history.  The festival goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be at the Willamette Heritage Center’s Spinning Room, 1313 Mill St. S.E.  Entertainment starts at 10:15 a.m. with a performance by Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums followed by a highland dance. This year’s headlining band is Blaz Dañjerus, which is a group that brings together Irish and Breton dance music. The band plays a concert at 11 a.m. and will also play from 4-5 p.m. for a traditional dance.  Festival tickets can be purchased at the venue and are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Children 12 and younger get in free. More information is available on the festival’s Facebook and website. Halloween fun Unless otherwise noted, events are recurring through the end of October. Get spooked at Mill Creek Correctional Facility, 5465 Turner Rd. S.E., this Halloween season. The old prison has been transformed into the Mill Creek Haunted Prison by Salem’s Tormented Illusion. The haunted prison haunted house experience costs $30 per person, the ghost tours $20 and less scary guided tours cost $15. There is also a less scary haunted prison experience for children which costs $15 per person. More info and tickets can be found online.  Take in an interactive horror experience with “Ghosts of the Grand.” Explore the haunted corridors of a 124-year-old theater, from the eerie balcony to the mysterious ballroom, and venture into hidden spaces like the basement, tunnels and a secret speakeasy. Events take place most days of the week and start at 6 p.m., and tickets start at $22. The theater is at 187 High St. N.E. Runs through Nov. 2.  The Nightmare Factory returns to provide hair-raising frights at the Oregon School for the Deaf, 999 Locust St. N.E. The haunted house, designed and built each year, is run by students. The haunted house is open 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as on Tuesday, Oct. 30, and Halloween. Tickets start at $20 per person and can be bought online or at the event. Another example of a scary surprise that awaits visitors at the Nightmare Factory at the Oregon School for the Deaf on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 (Laura Tesler/Special to the Salem Reporter) Brave the haunted corn maze at Fordyce Farms on Friday and Saturday nights in October. Runs from 7-9:30 p.m. Admission $16. Not recommended for young children. May be canceled in case of heavy rain; check the farm website or Facebook page for latest information. The farm is located at 7023 Sunnyview Rd N.E. Saturday, Oct. 19-27: Celebrate Halloween at Powerland Heritage Park with “Saving Neverland: A Pirate Adventure.” The family-friendly, non-scary adventure includes a hunt for skeletons wreaking havoc at the park and other kids’ activities. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends at 3995 Brooklake Rd. N.E. Tickets $18 for adults and $14 for kids. *Wednesday, Oct. 23: Celebrate the fall season with a car decorating contest and some early trick-or-treating. From 5-8 p.m., Chemeketa Community College is hosting a Trunk-or-Treat event for community members, students and employees to show off their creativity in a contest for best-decorated car and hand out candy. The design contest requires cars to be decorated in a fall theme. The event  will be at the college’s Red Lot, 4000 Lancaster Dr. N.E. People interested in participating in the contest must RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 17, by emailing [email protected].   Harvest festivals at local farms are in full swing. Salem Reporter rounded up a list of local farms and fall festivals for people to enjoy corn mazes, apple cider and pumpkin patches.  A slice of local harvest festivals around Salem Live music, comedy, improv and other entertainment Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. S.E. #150 Thursday, Oct. 17: RiRi Caliente returns with another night of drag entertainment followed by karaoke. “Drag Time!” performances start at 8 p.m. and the lineup will include Mulan Rouge, Miss Jaxon and Starr. Following performances, karaoke with RiRi Caliente starts at 10 p.m. and goes until Infinity Room closes. “Drag Time!” tickets are $10 in advance, and $12 at the door. Karaoke is free.  Saturday, Oct. 19: Enjoy a night of hip-hop and rap featuring artists around Oregon, including N0Alarm, TRIPT and A.GUZZY.XI from Salem, Ryanmadeit from Astoria and Dj H-Ram from Corvallis. The show kicks off at 7 p.m., with the door opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $13 at the door.  Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E. Friday, Oct. 18: British actor David Payne will appear on stage as Sir Winston Churchill on Friday at 7:30 p.m.. The show, titled Churchill, takes place just after President John F. Kennedy awarded Churchill with U.S. citizenship. Catch the often funny, sometimes touching and always engaging one-man-show. Tickets are $55 in advance and $60 day of. Saturday, Oct. 19: John Dela Cruz, well-known on social media and for his popular comedy podcast “I Beg Your Pardon,” will perform as Nurse John. His comedy “is like talking to your work bestie; you trauma dump, cry, scream, and laugh together through all the highs and lows of working in the service industry.” The show is 18+. Tickets start at $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20: One of India’s largest folk singers, Gurdas Maan, brings his renowned skills to Salem as he makes his way around the U.S. on tour. Gurdas Maan became famous in the 1980s for his music, mostly sung in Punjabi, and has since made over 30 albums and been in many Punjabi movies. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $50 to $100.  Other venues Friday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 20: Watch horses participate in a regional competition over the weekend. The Northwest Pony of the Americas and Open Show is coming to the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center, 2330 17th St. N.E., on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info can be found online.  Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19: The Premiere Academy of Performing Arts presents its Halloween Dance Concert at Chemeketa Community College, 4000 Lancaster Dr. N.E., Building 6. The first half of the show consists of short Halloween themed dances performed by a variety of levels and age groups. The second half, “Stranded” is an original story that is sure to give you goosebumps and take you on an eerie journey. Shows at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.  Tickets $18.46. Saturday, Oct. 19: Project Chamber Music will perform a concert alongside world-class musicians to mentor Willamette Valley players. The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. at Willamette University’s Hudson Concert Hall, 900 State St. Building 29. The performance will include “Mozart’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat major” and Brahms’ “Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor.” Tickets are $30, or free for Willamette University students. They can be purchased by cash or check only at the door. Proceeds will go to needs-based scholarships for children’s music lessons. Live theater and cinema Salem Cinema, 1127 Broadway St. N.E. Thursday, Oct. 17 & Sunday, Oct. 20: There are two showings of “Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party,” a documentary showing newly recovered reels of the singer in the early 80s. The film will play at 7 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $15 in advance or $18 the day of the show.  Friday Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19: The iconic indie horror film “The Babadook” is turning 10 this year. There are 8 p.m. showings on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $11. Saturday, Oct. 19: “Gremlins” will play at noon. The classic horror film stars a cute creature which should not be fed after midnight. Tickets are $9. Monday, Oct. 21: “Dial M for Murder,” a sophisticated and sinister Alfred Hitchcock thriller, will play at Salem Cinema at 6 p.m. Tickets are $9. Tuesday, Oct. 22: Enjoy Salem’s home-grown hit horror film, “Cocaine Crabs from Outer Space.” As the title suggests, it follows a group of extraterrestrial crabs wreaking havoc. The show starts at 7 p.m. and Salem filmmaker Chuck Magee will be there. Tickets are $9 in advance and $11 the day of the show. Chuck Magee, left, and Kat Andrews in the “Cocaine Snorting Crabs From Outer Space” trailer (Courtesy/ Wounded Rat Productions). Classes and workshops Saturday Oct. 19: Two workshops will follow psychologist Roxy Manning’s Peace Lecture, which is on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The first Saturday workshop is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and focuses on nonviolent communication. The second workshop is from 1-4 p.m. and is on lessening polarization in conversation. The first workshop is at the Salem YMCA, 685 Court St. N.E. and the second workshop is at Ike Box, 299 Cottage St. N.E. Salem Reporter previewed Wednesday’s Peace Lecture, which also has the information about Saturday’s workshops.  Markets and shopping *Thursday, Oct. 17-Friday, Oct. 18: Pick up some books at the Fall Book Sale at the Salem Public Library at 585 Liberty Street S.E. on Thursday and Friday. The book sale includes CDs, and DVDs and there will be a speciality book sale and silent auction running for the duration of the sale. Proceeds from the sale benefit programs and special projects at the library. The sale goes from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. More information can be found online.  (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Friday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 19: It’s time for the Great Junk Hunt at the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center, 2330 17th St. N.E. Sale runs Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets range from $10 to $20 depending on entrance time. Parking costs $5 per vehicle. More info on the market can be on the Great Junk Hunt website.   Wednesday, Oct. 23-27: A five day long children’s consignment event, Baby’s Bottom Dollar Sale is coming to Columbia Hall at the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center, 2330 17th St. N.E. The pop up event wants to help take clothes off of parents’ hands and save money with affordable, new clothes for their children. Shopping is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday. Parking for the event costs $5. More info on the sale can be found online. Every Saturday from Oct. 12-March 15 is the Indoor Winter Market at Wavra Farms. The farm’s greenhouses host the weekly marketplace, which has over 40 rotating vendors. Wavra Farms is located at 7882 Jordan St. S.E. Salem Reporter reported on the market’s opening last year.  Every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Salem Public Market at 1240 Rural Avenue S.E. The Salem Saturday Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 865 Marion St. N.E. The Saturday Market ends Oct. 26. Art and museum exhibitions Check out what Salem museums and art galleries are showing in October here. What’s showing at Salem galleries, museums in October Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected]. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post Salem events from Oct. 17-23: Chemeketa Trunk-or-Treat, Celtic festival, peace workshops appeared first on Salem Reporter.