Downtown Salem came alive with the sounds of live performance on Sunday, June 21, as musicians took to the streets for Make Music Day 2026. The annual celebration, which falls each year on the summer solstice, filled the city’s sidewalks and public spaces with performers sharing their talents directly with the community.

The Statesman Journal captured the festive scene in both video and a photo gallery, documenting performers of various styles bringing music out of concert halls and into the everyday spaces where Salem residents live, work, and gather. The free, open-air format of Make Music Day is designed to make live music accessible to everyone, turning a midsummer Sunday into a citywide concert.

The musical celebration capped off a weekend of community spirit in Salem. The day before, on Saturday, June 20, families, children, and local entrepreneurs gathered at Riverfront Park for the 2026 Juneteenth Festival, hosted by the Salem-Keizer NAACP. The Salem Reporter documented the festivities in a photo gallery, highlighting the joyful turnout of community members coming together to mark the occasion.

Together, the two events made for a memorable weekend in Salem — one filled with music, community pride, and the kind of shared public celebration that brings neighbors closer together.

Sources: Statesman Journal, Salem Reporter