This year’s Salem Days theme, “My town,” is the most fitting for residents who call their city “the best kept secret in the valley.”

A grand parade, talent show, Dutch-oven cook off, concerts and a movie in the park are among a few of the events that will be featured during Salem Days running Aug. 3-11.

“Salem still has a very small-town feeling to it,” said Mat Marziale, recreation director for Salem.

Marziale said the Salem Days planning committee wanted to pick a theme that “attached people to the town.”

“Everybody that lives in Salem has that conviction,” said Reta Tischner, a longtime Salem resident, who’s been heavily involved in the planning of Salem Days for multiple years. “That’s what makes Salem so unique. I think the theme is all inclusive of who we are and who we’re trying to celebrate.”

Tischner says she’s been attending Salem Days since she moved to the small town, but didn’t participate in the planning of events initially. Over the years, Tischner and her family have helped with the pageant, the parade and the fireside gathering.

This year, Marziale expects 7,000 people to attend Salem Days. The last day of the city celebration is expect to receive the most visitors as the Fun Run, Breakfast in the Park, the Grand Parade, Salem’s Greatest Show, the firework show and more is scheduled to occur.

Without a question, Marziale said the Salem Days fireworks is the most-attended event through the week-long celebration, because it’s a time where Salem residents have barbecues and invite their families to come to the town.

Marziale said the biggest change to the city celebration this year is that the pageant before the fireworks will feature more of an “America’s Got Talent” theme, according to Marziele.

Without the help of volunteers, Marziele says there is not enough staff to pull off the event.

“I just feel like Salem Days happens because of all the volunteers,” said Tischner. “We have amazing people that step it up every year and it’s gotten better.”

“It’s community driven,” said Marziele. “Without those volunteers putting together the event, the event wouldn’t happen.”

Marziele said the Salem mayor puts together a committee that selects Salem Days honorees like the grand marshal, family of the year and a volunteer of the year.

“The grand marshal will be somebody that’s put some sweat and blood into Salem,” said Marziele. “With it being a town of 8,000, everyone will probably know the grand marshal.”

Marziele expects the honorees to be chosen by the end of July.

Bryce Williams, who attended Salem High School and works for the Salem library says he appreciates how the city celebration emphasizes the local talent.

“We’re still such a veteran community that we’re still able to celebrate the town as a whole,” said Williams. “As a community we can come together and develop our heritage, and different age groups can enjoy different activities.”

As Salem Days draws near, residents have expressed concern over the town losing its small-town feel.

“A lot of the local residents have been here forever, they want it to stay that way. It would be awesome if it would, but it’s just one of those things you can’t really control,” said Marziale.

Tischner says it might change as housing and economic growth is expected in the area. Despite thinking the town is getting too big too fast, she has accepted the growth and said “those things have to happen”.

Salem Days will end Saturday, Aug. 11 with a firework show expected to draw in 1,500 people to Knoll Park.