This is part of a weekly series where we introduce readers to individuals who are passionate about serving our Mid-Valley community.
The Englewood Forest Festival returns to Salem on Saturday.
Thousands of people are expected to attend the free, family-friendly event. The festival was launched in 2017 to celebrate and highlight Englewood Park, the city’s oldest park in one of Salem’s most densely populated neighborhoods, and has grown steadily since then, with vendor registrations skyrocketing and attendance tripling.
Festival founder Lynn Takata said the festival’s mission remains the same.
Takata, an artist who once lived in Portland, designed the Salem Peace Mosaic and was drawn to the neighborhood northeast of downtown 10 years ago because of Englewood Park.
“It’s a magical, peaceful park,” she said. “People say this park is poetic. … It’s so incredibly beautiful, peaceful, an oasis of calm in the middle of this dense neighborhood.”
When Takata spoke at the park on a recent afternoon, the activity around her underscored her point. Tall Oregon white oaks and Douglas firs shaded the playground while families played, teenagers walked the paths and the city’s summer camp group laughed beside the fountain. Birds and butterflies flitted in and out of the pollinator garden, between the flowers and trees.
Takata said she noticed when she moved to the neighborhood that not everyone appreciated the park or visited regularly. The idea for the festival came from her desire to highlight the park’s uniqueness and support local creatives.
“I felt that in order to protect the park, people needed to understand what was important about it,” she said.
Purchased by the city in 1926 and designed by renowned design team Lord & Schryver, the 17-acre park features two playgrounds, a fountain, horseshoe pits and a pollinator garden.
Takata and other neighbors planned the inaugural festival in 2017 with artist booths, activities, and music and dance performances. The first year, she worried if people would come. But more than 1,200 people showed up. The festival was held each August at the park, 1260 19th St. NE, near Englewood Elementary School, and attendance continued to grow.
During the pandemic, organizers suspended the festival for two years. It took place again in 2022. Last year’s event attracted an estimated 4,000 people.
The event takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes a full day of music and dance performances on two stages, 50 local art vendors, and free environmental and educational activities.
She highlighted some of the activities she was looking forward to this year, including a pellet dissection booth, aerial dancers, a poetry workshop, a build-your-own-terrarium booth and the opportunity to make alebrijes, whimsical creatures from Mexican folklore.
Takata said organizers would strive to encourage diversity of vendors and performances, advertise in multiple languages and assist vendors in marketing and setting up their booths.
A board of directors and a group of volunteers have supported the festival over the years, many of whom have volunteered to market the event, help with set-up and tear-down, and beautify the park in the days leading up to it.
As the event continues to grow, more donations and volunteers are needed, Takata added. Those interested in donating or volunteering can learn more at englewoodforestfestival.org/support.
Takata said she looks forward to the festival continuing in the coming years.
“It just makes me so happy to be able to do this for the neighborhood and the community,” she said.
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