Salem Art Fair seeks cooler temperatures, moves to September in 2024
The Salem Art Fair & Festival, traditionally held in July, hopes to beat the heat by moving to the second weekend of September.
Salem Art Association, the nonprofit organization behind one of the largest art festivals in the Pacific Northwest, is making the announcement today in conjunction with posting artist applications for next year.
The 2024 Salem Art Fair will be Sept. 13-15 at Bush's Pasture Park. It will be the 75th art fair.
The scheduling change comes after Salem Art Association surveyed members, artists, volunteers, neighbors and visitors. Nearly 500 people responded, and 70% were overwhelmingly in support of moving the fair from July.
Executive director Matthew Boulay said even after discussions with the staff and the board of directors, he wanted community input before making any decision.
"This is a big move for the community," Boulay said. "Next year is our 75th art fair. We recognize people have long memories of art fair as a part of their summer. We felt like it was important to not make the decision in isolation.
"The survey really satisfied me that this is the right decision and has not just support, but a lot of enthusiasm."
Heat complaints, oak tree damage
Increasing complaints about the heat the past two years coincided with the art fair having to relocate within Bush's Pasture Park. The festival was moved in 2022 from underneath the oak tree canopy to the open pasture along High Street SE to protect the park's native white oaks, some as old as 300 years.
A 2019 study for Mission Street Parks Conservancy said the annual three-day festival, which has drawn as many as 36,000 attendees, was a major contributor to root damage caused by pedestrians and vehicles.
In the early days of the art fair, it was just a one-day affair held first at an association member's home, then Willson Park. It was moved to Bush's Pasture Park in 1954 and has been there since, growing from a collection of local artists near the Bush Barn Art Center to more than 200 vendors from across the country taking over the upper oak grove.
By moving into the pasture in 2022, the festival directed pedestrian traffic onto the grass and away from the tree's roots.
Officials added two air-conditioned cooling tents, industrial-sized misters and large umbrella tables scattered throughout the site to compensate for the loss of shade. It also offered free water.
But it was not enough for many visitors.
People commented in the survey about how they had to leave early because they were uncomfortable in the heat. Afternoon turnout was slow.
"What really became a concern was the number of complaints and concerns about the heat was really high, and yet it was only 87 for a high both years," Boulay said. "We all know that in July, it could easily get in the 90s, or even the 100s. Even at a relatively mild heat, it felt overwhelming to most people and beyond our ability to fully mitigate."
Attendance has hovered around 20,000 since a two-year hiatus during the pandemic and the move to the pasture.
Wine festival to be added
Salem Art Association also announced an addition to next year's event.
As part of its 75th celebration, there will be a wine festival. Embedded within the art fair will be a number of local vineyard vendors with plans for tastings and competition.
"I think lots of people appreciate the pairing," Boulay said. "We have had wine vendors before, but not in a concerted, focused way, with a significant number of vendors and associated programming."
Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com. Follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem Art Fair seeks cooler temperatures, moves to September in 2024
