This week in Salem, tour a lit up Willamette Heritage Center at Magic at the Mill, get a free book from the Salem Public Library or start the holiday season by taking pictures with Santa Claus.  Here’s the lineup of Salem events for the week from Thursday, Nov. 28, to Wednesday, Dec. 4. 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. Free Thanksgiving Day meals Salem Elks Lodge #336: Home cooked meals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The lodge is located at 2336 Turner Rd. S.E. More information can be found by calling the lodge at 503-364-6839.  BlondZee’s Guest House: From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., dine in for a Thanksgiving meal at BlondZee’s Guest House, 4850 Portland Rd. N.E. Meals available only for dine in. Call 503-390-4689 for more information.  Oak Park Church of God: Thanksgiving meals are available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The church is offering dine in meals at its location at 2990 Lancaster Dr. N.E. The church’s phone number is 260-797-2620.  The ARCHES Project: Dine in Thanksgiving meals available starting at 12 p.m. at the ARCHES’ facility, 615 Commercial St. N.E. Call 503-399-9080 for more information.  River Church Salem: Free meals for Thanksgiving Day will be available between 2-4 p.m. at the River Church, located at 4675 Portland Rd. N.E. Suite 190. Call 503-385-8721 for more information.  Simonka Place: Women and children only. Enjoy a Thanksgiving meal from 4-5:30 p.m. at Simonka Place, 5119 River Rd. N. in Keizer. Call one day in advance to reserve your meal. The phone number is 503-362-7487.  Radness Ensues: From 11a.m. to midnight, drop in to Radness Ensues, a Keizer community center, for a potluck style meal on Thanksgiving Day. There will be movies throughout the day along with popcorn and hot cocoa. Radness Ensues is located at 3837 River Rd. N. in Keizer. For more information call 503-991-5823. Holiday events *Thursday, Nov. 28-Dec. 22: Start enjoying the holiday season with a festive snack and drink or fun carnival ride. The Holiday Village is open at the Oregon State Fairgrounds livestock pavilion, 2330 17th St. N.E. Holiday Village has a market full of locally-made crafts and on weekends, people can take photos with Santa. The event runs on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free but parking is $5 per vehicle. More information can be found online.  Thursday, Nov. 28-Jan. 4: The Magic of Lights is at the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, 2330 17th St. N.E. A mile-long stretch of the fairgrounds is transformed into a bright holiday wonderland until Jan. 4. The drive-thru holiday light experience will go from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 10 p.m. weekends. A standard vehicle pass starts at $19 in advance. More information can be found online.  Friday, Nov. 29-Monday, Dec. 2: The Willamette Heritage Center will transform into a holiday wonderland for the Magic at the Mill event runs nightly Friday through Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event includes Santa visits, live music, historical demonstrations and more. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for children ages 6 to 17 years old, and free for kids 5 years or younger. Willamette Heritage Center members also get in for free. Santa was getting a lot of wish list items at Magic at the Mill on Wednesday, Dec. 21. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) *Friday, Nov. 29: Celebrate Santa Claus’ arrival in Salem at Riverfront Park as he rolls into town aboard the Carousel Express Train at 12 p.m. After arriving in Riverfront Park, Santa will stick around from 12:30-5 p.m. for photos, which cost $15. Visits are free. The event will also have free hot cocoa for people as they wait for Santa’s arrival or photos afterwards. More information is available on Facebook.  *Tuesday, Dec. 3: Willamette University will kick off the holiday season by lighting the Star Trees on campus, 900 State St., at 7 p.m. The event includes music, cocoa and s’mores. The trees are located on the north side of campus, 900 State St. Meet the Hulk Friday, Nov. 29: Meet Lou Ferrigno, the actor who played the Hulk in “The Incredible Hulk” television series. The meet and greet will be held at Radar Toys, 1440 Lancaster Dr. N.E., and people will have the chance to get autographs and selfies with Ferrigno. The event is from 3-6 p.m. The cost starts at $50. Live music, comedy, improv and other entertainment Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. S.E. #150 Friday, Nov. 29: Salem-based rock group Symmetry/Symmetry is celebrating the release of their new album with a party along with fellow Salem artist Jordan Taylor Roach. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $12 at the door.  Saturday, Nov. 30: A lineup of rock and alternative artists are performing. Performers include Salem rock artist Felitare, Happy Front and Salem duo 39 Zayz & WONGSTAR. The show starts at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $13 at the door.  Grand Theatre, 187 High St. N.E. Saturday, Nov. 30: The Oregon Opry with Roman & The Long Haul, Dumpster Joe and Simon Sharipoff will perform. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the show. Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E. Saturday, Nov. 30: Comedian Rob Schneider will perform standup comedy at Elsinore Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets start at $49. Tuesday, Dec. 3: Spend a night enjoying the music of a cappella group The Coats as they take to the stage. The four men have spent two decades performing around the country. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-$45.  Live theater and cinema Salem Cinema, 1127 Broadway St. N.E.  Monday, Dec. 2, 5: The documentary “Maria by Callas” will play at Salem Cinema, exploring the opera singer’s life. Monday’s show is at 6 p.m. and Thursday’s is at 3:45 p.m. Tickets are $9.  Tuesday, Dec. 3: A screening of “Klimt & The Kiss” will show at 6 p.m. The film dives into the history of the famous painting and life of artist Gustav Klimt. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the event. Wednesday, Dec. 4: The 1939 musical “The Wizard of Oz” will play at Salem Cinema at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $11.  Grand Theatre, 187 High St. N.E. Friday, Nov. 29: A screening of the holiday classic “Home Alone” will start at 8 p.m. The movie will play right after Salem’s downtown holiday parade finishes around 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8.  Other venues Friday, Nov. 29-Dec. 21: “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” will play at the Pentacle Theatre, 324 52nd Ave. N.W. The holiday play focuses on the middle sister of “Pride and Prejudice” as she seeks independence, an intellectual match and possibly even love. Shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with shows at 2 p.m. most Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets start at $25. Classes, workshops and lectures *Wednesday, Dec. 4: Interested in some new reading material this season? The Salem Public Library is giving away free copies of “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” by Carmen Rita Wong on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s the 2025 Salem Reads selection and will be the focus of a variety of library events in February.. Come to the main floor of the library downtown at 585 Liberty Street S.E. to get a free copy of the book, which is a memoir about family secrets and identity. Books are available in English or Spanish.  Wednesday, Dec. 4-18: It’s time to bring some tropical island sound this holiday season. Center 50+ hosts holiday music ukulele lessons Wednesdays through Dec. 18. The first class session costs $48 for residents and $57 for non-Salem residents, and the second session cost $72 for residents and $84.40 for non-Salem residents. Intermediate note reader classes run from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and intermediate strummer classes run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration for the class can be done at the Connection Center at Center 50+. Markets and shopping 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.  A vendor with Blind Coffee Roasters talks with a customer at the Wavra Farms Indoor Winter Market on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 (Rachel Alexander/Salem Reporter) Every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Salem Public Market at 1240 Rural Avenue S.E. 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. 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