"Friday Night on the Square" to Become "Saturday on the Square"

A major change is coming to one of Washington County’s most well-known events.

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce has announced in a press release that "Friday Night on the Square," a community tradition since 1991, will move from its usual Friday evening timeslot to a new Saturday afternoon format starting this fall.

The event will now be held from Noon to 5:00 p.m. on a Saturday in September. The Chamber cited goals of increasing vendor participation, reducing scheduling conflicts, and creating a more accessible experience for attendees.

According to the Chamber, the decision comes after internal discussions about how to accommodate continued growth and feedback from vendors and community members. The change was made under the direction of Chamber CEO Erik Bush.

One of the key considerations cited was the impact of Friday night high school football games. By shifting to a Saturday, the Chamber hopes to attract larger crowds from all three school districts in the county.

The longer Saturday hours are also expected to provide vendors with more time to interact with attendees. Food vendors, in particular, may benefit from being able to serve both lunch and early dinner crowds.

The change also comes ahead of the event's 35th anniversary in 2026, with the Chamber stating they did not want to wait two more years to make what they view as needed updates to the format.

The initial announcement drew a mixed reaction from the community. "As someone who was involved in football for many years, I never got to experience Friday night on the square," said one anonymous commenter on Facebook. "By not having to compete with football games, I would imagine a much larger crowd. More people exposed to this event means more money now, and the possibility of more money for years to come as more and more are able to be exposed to the event."

Others were less than thrilled about the news, with many citing the frequently high midday temperatures in September as the primary downside to moving the event. Others were concerned about the idea of local change itself. "Don't mess with small town micro festivals," another comment said. "We cling to tradition."

"Friday Night on the Square" has been held annually in downtown Salem, featuring retail vendors, food trucks, community organizations, and family-friendly activities. The Chamber says those familiar features will remain part of the event despite the new day and time.

The newly rebranded "Saturday on the Square" is scheduled to debut this September. Specific dates and vendor details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.