Capital City Retro Fest Returns To Salem Waterfront (Photo) - 03/30/26
Capital City Retro Fest Returns to Salem Waterfront
Award-Winning Festival Set for Three Nights of All-Ages Concerts at the Gerry Frank | Salem Rotary Amphitheater
Salem, OR – March 30, 2026 – Capital City Retro Fest returns to Salem’s Waterfront Park for its second year, August 14–16, 2026 at the Gerry Frank Amphitheater. The three-night, all-ages tribute band festival follows a successful debut in 2025, where it was recognized by the Oregon Festivals and Events Association with an Ovation Award for “Music Festival of the Year.”
The 2026 lineup spans multiple eras of popular music, with each night featuring three tribute acts. Friday, August 14, includes Red Not Chili Peppers [Red Hot Chili Peppers], Fighting Foos [Foo Fighters], and Infatuation Junkie [Alanis Morissette]. Saturday, August 15, features Hysteria [Def Leppard], Wild Boys [Duran Duran], and TribU2 [U2]. Sunday, August 16, closes the weekend with Taken By The Sky [Fleetwood Mac], Petty Fever [Tom Petty], and Hall & Bros [Hall & Oates + Doobie Brothers].
Produced by Harefest, LLC, the festival was created to offer a high-quality tribute concert experience in an all-ages setting. The event returns to the Gerry Frank Amphitheater following recent park improvements, which provide a central, accessible outdoor venue for live music in downtown Salem. New for 2026, the festival will include a dedicated “photo stage,” where attendees can step up with instruments and capture their own rock star moment.
“Last year exceeded expectations on a lot of levels,” said Jason Fellman, co-founder of Harefest, LLC. “Winning the Ovation Award was a strong indicator that this event connected with the community. Moving to a weekend ahead of the Oregon State Fair gives us more room to grow and makes it easier for people to plan around both events.”
Capital City Retro Fest will also feature food carts, misting tents, a free water refill station, family-friendly activities, and a central bar serving adult beverages for attendees 21 and over.
Festival Hours
Friday, August 14: Gates 6:00pm / Music 7:00pm
Saturday, August 15: Gates 6:00pm / Music 7:00pm
Sunday, August 16: Gates 4:00pm / Music 5:00pm
Tickets
On sale Friday, April 3 at 10:00am at aftontickets.com/capcityretro
Single-day: $30 advance ($25 early bird through April) / $35 day of show
3-day pass: $75 ($60 early bird through April 30)
Kids 12 and under: Free admission
More info available at capcityretro.com
Media assets (photos, logos): tinyurl.com/capcityretrofestmedia
About Harefest, LLC Harefest, LLC produces music festivals and events throughout the Pacific Northwest, including HAREFEST: The Mother of All Tribute Festivals, Legends Reloaded, Capital City Retro Fest, 90s Flannel Fest, and Seattle Retro Fest. The company focuses on creating accessible, high-quality live music experiences across multiple markets. More at harefest.com
