Punx in the Park is returning to downtown Salem for its fifth year of free punk rock makeovers, mosh pits and music, alongside housing, food and mentorship resources.  The homegrown resource fair and music festival draws thousands of people and hundreds of youth each year. It will be at Riverfro nt Park near the amphitheater, where rock, metal and punk bands will perform throughout the day. The fair will be on Saturday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Riverfront Park, 200 Water St. N.E. It is free to attend.  Youth ages 11-18 can access additional free resources using a wristband obtained through a short questionnaire. There will be two booths where youth can grab a wristband: one at the northwest side of the park and another near the amphitheater. It will be partially sunny with temperatures in the low 70s Saturday, according to the latest forecast. The event started with Hailey Hulsey, founder of Punx With Purpose, a Salem nonprofit that organizes the fair annually. Hulsey wanted it to be a space where kids and teens could learn about all the resources available to them in Salem.  “We wanted to be the adults that we needed when we were kids. So why not go give them the information that we would have loved to have had from people that we could trust?,” said James Kelley, Husley’s husband and director of Punx in the Park Punx in the Park started in 2022, filling Marion Square Park with 32 local, youth-focused resource booths. The event has grown in the past four years, with Kelley now keeping a waitlist for local groups who want a booth at the next fair. This year, it will have over 70 resource booths. Kelley believes the fair has grown largely through word-of-mouth. “Youth aren’t going to typically just show themselves to somebody that’s saying, ‘I’m here to help you.’ They need to understand that, ‘Oh, my friend went to this, said it was pretty cool. Come check it out,’” Kelley said. Last year, the fair drew 810 youth who had access to free food, clothes, haircuts and connections to services.  The fair gets its name from punk culture, which Kelley described as accepting and non-judgemental. “(Punks) are the people that helped you up when you got down. They’re the first ones to give their shirt off their back or a couch to sleep on,” he said. On Saturday, youth ages 11-18 can access exclusive resources for free, such as the clothing closet or a meal from one of the food trucks. All they need is a wristband.  Wristbands can be obtained by filling out a short questionnaire. The form asks for non-invasive details such as age, county of residence and includes an optional, “Can we reach out?” question.  The clothing closet is a popular attraction for the fair, where youth can pick out stylish clothes for free, including those donated by Hot Topic.  This year’s closet is likely the fair’s biggest yet, Kelley said. His team rented a 26-foot moving truck they plan to fill top to bottom with dozens of containers packed with clothes. Youth can also get a free meal from a local food truck, plus a free drink and dessert. Food vendors this year will cook tacos, pizza, loaded baked potatoes, barbecue, vegan options and more. Drink options include dirty sodas, boba tea and root beer floats. Kelley said the event not only connects youth with resources, but also gives them a sense of community, a space for self-expression and an opportunity to let loose in front of the live bands. Live music from five bands will start at noon and continue through the evening. The headliner, Toxic Zombie, a horror-themed rock band from Portland, will close out the fair. Youth can get color in their hair, do a fun style or “whatever kind of crazy ideas” they come up with at the “Build-A-Punk” station, Kelley said. Youth can also get a back-to-school trim from professional barbers and hairstylists. At the “Battle Vest Creative Tent,” youth can customize their own “battle jackets,” or jean jackets with cutoff sleeves. Vests can be decorated with patches, pins and other provided accessories. Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] . “My go-to source every morning for accurate, local news.” Make Salem Reporter your trusted source for independent local reporting – every day. Stay informed and connected. Subscribe today. The post Youth resource fair brings free clothes, music and punk spirit to downtown Salem in 5th year appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less