Salem Reporter has a new events calendar here. You can browse what’s happening in Salem or submit an upcoming event here. Instead of a weekly listing of dozens of local events, Salem Reporter will now highlight a few each week on Wednesday afternoons. Here’s a roundup for the week from Thursday, Dec. 19, to Wednesday, Dec. 25. *Starred events are free to attend, although they may include ticketed components or a suggested donation. Beer and kittens Thursday, Dec. 19: Snuggle with kittens and enjoy a drink at Santiam Brewing to support Meow Village, a rescue organization for feral and at-risk cats. For every pint sold, $1 is donated to Meow Village. During the night, learn more about the organization and the chance to volunteer. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and takes place at Santiam Brewing, 2540 19th St. S.E. Cambodian exhibit *Friday, Dec. 20: Learn about Cambodian culture at the opening night of the Angkorian Might exhibit at the World Beat gallery, located at 390 Liberty St. S.E. The immersive exhibit is sponsored by Paradise of Samoa, a local Polynesian dance troupe, and will be open until Feb. 6, 2025. The gallery is hosted by World Beat and the Salem Multicultural Institute. The opening night will be from 6-8 p.m. Admission to the exhibit is free. The BAD Space show Friday, Dec. 20: Attend a double-header performance by well-known local artists Ty Curtis and Terry Robb. The two singers will bring their solo performances to The BAD Space, located at 2544 19th St. S.E., along with guest performer Taylor Newville. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show will be from 7-10:30 p.m. Tickets range from $22-27.  Ty Curtis performs onstage at the Englewood Forest Festival on Aug. 12, 2023. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Visit Santa at the Carousel *Friday, Dec. 20-23: Walk-in visits with Santa at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel are open several days in December. Santa visits are free, with keepsake photos $15 each, and photos on your own device $5. No reservations are needed, and for more information, check Facebook here. The carousel is located in Riverfront Park, 101 Front St. N.E. Times for photos with Santa:  Friday, Dec. 20: 12-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., 1:30-5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Krampus Ball Saturday, Dec. 21: Attend the Krampus Ball at Infinity Room, 210 Liberty St. S.E. Suite #150, for a night filled with rock music and a costume contest. Bands including Wild Ire, The Doug Fury’s and Wire Monkey Mama will perform. Tony Meyer and Dash Thompson will co-host the event and even have an appearance from Krampus. The ball starts at 7:30 p.m., doors at 7 p.m. Presale tickets are $20, at the door $25. Krampus makes an appearance at the Downtown Salem Holiday Parade on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Catch a Christmas classic Saturday, Dec. 21 & Sunday, Dec. 22: The Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E., will show three classic holiday movies on the big screen. Tickets range from $5-10 for each. Elf – Saturday. Doors open at 1 p.m., showtime at 2 p.m. White Christmas – Sunday. Doors open at 1 p.m., showtime at 2 p.m. Home Alone – Sunday. Doors open at 6 p.m., showtime at 7 p.m. You can also pop into Santa’s workshop for a selfie with Santa (and Buddy the Elf at the Saturday showing). He will be in attendance the hour before the show and visits are included with tickets. Market for the Strange Sunday, Dec. 22: Market for the Strange will celebrate the growing alternative art scene in the Salem area with its last event of the year, The Nightmare Before Creepmas. The last-minute holiday market is the perfect place to find gifts for your strangest friends and family with over 80 local creators showing off oddities, unusual art and bizarre creations, along with a tattoo artist, food and costumed performers. The market will take place at the Salem Convention Center, 200 Commercial St. S.E. Tickets are $5. Lindsay Newcomer sits with her husband’s wood portraits during the Market for the Strange held at the Salem Convention Center on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter) Salem Tuba Holiday Tuesday, Dec. 24: The Salem Tuba Holiday returns to the Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. S.E., on Christmas Eve for an annual tradition of musical merriment featuring players of conical bore instruments: baritone horns, euphoniums, and tubas. The show includes arrangements of popular Christmas carols and holiday songs performed by musicians of all ages from all over the Northwest. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the show starts at noon. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the show. Members of the tuba ensemble warm up for the Salem Tuba Holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023.(LAURA TESLER/Special to Salem Reporter) 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 Event highlights from Dec. 19-Dec. 25: Beer and kittens, last-minute market, Christmas Day appeared first on Salem Reporter.