Weather

Early spring is generally cooler temperatures with significant rain fall (especially in March). AS you head into April and May, temperatures can reach the high 60’s with ample sun breaks throughout the day, along with scattered showers.

What to Pack

• Rain jacket
• Sweatshirt with hood
• Pants (jeans, slacks)
• Short sleeve shirts
• Long sleeve shirts
• Closed toe shoes (probably not sandals)

What to Do & Where to Go

Spring signals the start of bloom season in the Mid-Willamette Valley as bright floral colors begin to pop throughout the region.

Favorite springtime experiences include visiting The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm & Festival (March – April) and Schreiner’s Iris Gardens (May) and Sebright Gardens – a lush, off-the-beaten-path farm specializing in hostas and other shade-loving plants. Farmers Markets around the region also re-open (generally in May), offering fresh produce, local food and wares, brilliant bouquets of freshly cut flowers and much more.

Weather

Summer in the Salem region typically means warm days with relatively low humidity. Rain is rare and the evenings are long (the sun doesn’t set until around 9 p.m. in June and July).

What to Pack

• Light weight jacket (for evenings)
• Light sweatshirt
• Shorts, Skirts
• Lightweight Pants
• Tank Tops/short sleeve shirts
• Sandals & Tennis shoes
• Sunglasses & Sun hat

What to Do & Where to Go

Warm summer days and relatively cool nights make summer the perfect time for outdoor events, festivals and concerts in the Salem region.

Visitors travel from far and wide to attend unique events such as the World Beat Festival (June), the Salem Art Fair & Festival (July) and Fiesta Mexicana (August). Summer also offers the perfect time to enjoy water activities (think kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding) along the Willamette River Water Trail and other bodies of water in the area.

Summer is also a popular time for hiking, with hundreds of trails filled with jaw-dropping scenery located throughout the region. We recommend getting an early start on a weekday, as trails are well-used on weekends throughout the summer and early fall.

Weather

What to Pack

• Lightweight jacket
• Light sweatshirt
• Pants
• Short sleeve shirts
• Shoes (tennis shoes and/or comfortable walking shoes)
• Sunglasses

Where to Go & What to Do

October is the time for Harvest Festivals in the Mid-Willamette Valley, as farm stores and stands showcase their fall produce and offer a bevy of fun activities, from corn mazes to hayrides and more. Fall is an ideal time to explore the agritourism stops along the Great Oaks Food Trail. Autumn is also perfect times to take in the beautiful fall foliage at various locations throughout the region. And with more than 30 wineries and tasting rooms located in the area, it’s all hustle and bustle in the fall, as many offer special tasting events to celebrate the fall harvest, crush and of course, the famous Thanksgiving in Wine Country open house events that take place in November.

Weather

Winter in Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley is the coolest season of the year, with frequent rain showers and mostly cloudy skies (significant snowfall is rare within the Salem city limits although outlying areas 1000 feet or above can see some accumulation).

What to Pack

• Warm coat (water resistant recommended)
• Sweatshirts
• Long sleeve shirts and sweaters
• Pants, jeans
• Gloves, hat
• Water resistant shoes and/or boots

What to Do & Where to Go

Winter offers the opportunity to cozy up with a warm, handcrafted beverage in the region’s farm-to-table eateries or with a glass of estate grown wine inside a cozy tasting room (some of which offer fireplaces or firepits).

It’s also a terrific time to take in a performance at one of the area’s intimate performing arts venues or delve into the stories of the people who helped shape the history of the region at one the area’s many museums such as the Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center or the Willamette Heritage Center.

Holiday shopping abounds in November and December, with dozens of shops and holiday marketplaces offering artisan crafted goods including art, jewelry, soap, tea and more.