Oregon’s Oldest & Finest Indoor Farmers Market
Est. 1943 ~ Open Saturdays, Year-Round ~ Fully Indoors
Salem Public Market has been part of this community since 1943 — making it one of Oregon's oldest and most enduring farmers markets. We are open every Saturday, 8:30am to 2:00pm, all year long. Fully indoors. No seasonal closures, no weather cancellations, no exceptions.
Our Story
It started during World War II, when Salem homemakers had a long tradition of driving to farms in Marion and Polk counties to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables for home preserving and canning. Wartime rationing made that need more urgent than ever. A Salem native brought the idea to the Salem City Council, who approved it immediately — and within days, the Saturday Tailgate Market was up and running. The public response was almost beyond belief.
Vendors soon moved indoors, purchasing land and building a structure with reclaimed lumber from Camp Adair. The market incorporated as a nonprofit on April 19, 1944, and found its permanent home at 1240 Rural Ave SE in 1946. Much of the labor to build and maintain it has always been volunteer.
More than 80 years later, the market is still here — still indoors, still open every Saturday, still run by the people who love it most.
The Market Today
One of our most beloved traditions is the community coffee table — started in the early days to keep arrivals comfortable and encourage them to linger. It became so appreciated it has never left! We invite you to come and stay a while.
Many of our vendors have been here five years or more. Many of our customers come every single week. That kind of loyalty says something about what this place means to Salem.
Today the Salem Public Market is Salem's only indoor, year-round public market. Come rain, wind, or the kind of Oregon grey that lasts all winter — we are open, warm, and ready for you.
Every week you will find farm-fresh eggs and pasture-raised meats, artisan baked goods, small-batch kombucha and raw juices, handcrafted jewelry, woodworking, art, herbal wellness products, fresh-cut flowers, and more — all from local makers and growers right here in the Willamette Valley.
Follow us on social media for weekly updates on what’s fresh and available, and for any notices about closures - rare, but always possible.
Find Us
Hours: Saturdays, 8:30am–2pm; open year-round
Open: Year-round - Indoors, rain or shine
Location: 1240 Rural Ave SE, Salem, OR 97302
Contact Us - Vendors
Have questions about being a vendor at the Salem Public Market? Send us a quick message, and we’ll reach out to explore if the market is the right fit for your business..
Contact Us - Media
Have questions about the Salem Public Market? Send us a quick message, and we’ll reach out to answer your questions and explore ways to get the word out about this hidden gem of a market.