The Bend Buzz

🎶 Alpenglow Nights returns

Derek Carlson — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Huge thanks to everyone who signed up for our new newsletter, the Oregon Buzz (and if you haven’t signed up yet, now’s the perfect time!)

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🎶 Alpenglow Nights returns
🔥 Stage 1 burn bans in effect
💼 New jobs in Bend

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

🎵 Alpenglow Nights kicks off

Concert season at the amphitheater is underway, and now Alpenglow Nights is joining in on the music fun. If you’re new around here, Alpenglow Nights is a free weekly concert series at Alpenglow Park that runs every Thursday through the end of June. The Hank Shreve Band will be taking center stage this week along with a fun lineup of activities, food, and vendors. Show up early, as this is always a super popular event. 5 - 8 PM Alpenglow Park

🔥 Stage 1 Burn Ban Now in Effect

It must truly be late spring in Bend as a Stage 1 burn ban is now in effect. On Deschutes National Forest and BLM lands in Central Oregon, you can no longer have campfires (except in designated fire rings at approved campgrounds), smoke, run chainsaws between 1 - 8 PM, use off-road vehicles outside of designated roads/trails, or partake in open flame welding or explosives. Gas or propane stoves are still allowed if they are more than 3 feet from vegetation.

💵 Visit Bend Awards $300,000 to Arts & Cultural Tourism Projects

Visit Bend, through their Cultural Tourism Fund, has awarded $300,000 in grants to organizations throughout Central Oregon. The 22 projects include the Bend Film Festival, High Desert Museum, Bend Fall Fest, Winter Pride Fest, Jazz at the Oxford, plus plenty more! You can check out the full list here (sort by 2026 to see only this year’s list).

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍻 Crux lawn space reopens: Earlier (as in a newsletter or two ago) we shared that a few new carts would be joining Crux. Well, for folks who have been waiting with bated breath for the lawn space to reopen, that day has officially come. So come enjoy the new space and grab some food from one of the many food trucks (the full list is now A Broken Angel, Alpine Smash Co, Mountain Mahalo Shaved Ice, Red Road Pizza Co., and
El Sancho).

👩‍🎨 Brittany Was Gallery launch: Local artist Brittany Was just launched her fine art gallery featuring vibrant, texture-heavy impasto oil paintings inspired by the Pacific Northwest. Prints start at $45, and a portion of every sale goes to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. If you’re interested in purchasing a print, they sent over a discount code for you to use - LAUNCH15

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @_rubenbrito_ | 📍Yoli
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH BEND ILLUMINATION

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Bend Illumination specializes in permanent lighting designs that highlight your entire home or business while staying Dark Sky compliant and neighbor-friendly.

Permanent Roofline Lighting: Nearly invisible tracks stay up year-round, directing light downward for a beautiful architectural glow. Use a simple app to switch from warm white to vibrant colors for any holiday or occasion. No ladders, no hassle.

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Whether you’re looking for a little extra curb appeal at home or a more inviting presence for your business, Bend Illumination ensures every space looks like a masterpiece that’s as responsible as it is radiant.

Book a free consultation at BendIllumination.com →

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 5.20

💻️ Coworking in Coffee Shops: Meet up with some fellow remote workers for a part work, part socializing sesh at a local coffee shop. 12 PM Location shared after signup

🏃‍♂️ Trail Running Film Fest: Get stoked for some summer trail running with an evening showcasing the best in trail running films. 7 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🧠 Headgames Trivia: Put your trivia knowledge to the test while enjoying a fresh pour of your favorite Deschutes brew. 6:30 PM Deschutes Brewery

💃 Tropical Latin Dance Party: Show off your moves at Dogwood’s weekly tropical Latin dance party. 7 PM Dogwood

🥕 Downtown Farmers Market: Stock up on your weekly supply of greens, meat, berries, and more at the downtown Bend farmers market. 11 AM - 3 PM Brooks Alley

🌱 Integrated Invasive Plant Management: Join the Native Plant Society of Oregon for a discussion on how the BLM is handling invasive plant management in Central Oregon. 5 PM Larkspur Community Center

❔ Mystery Book Club: Discuss the latest who-dun-it with a discussion of The Talented Mr. Ripley at Roundabout Books. 6 PM Roundabout Books

🧑‍💻 Tech Happy Hour: Grab a drink and chat about all things tech at What the Tech’s tech professional meetup. 5:30 PM Crux

🎶 Music Bingo: Music bingo is all the rage, so come give it a shot and see what all the fuss is about at Portello Lounge. 6:30 PM Portello Lounge

🌿 Stamp Making Class: Out - stickers. In - hand cut stamps. Learn how to make your own stamps at this hands-on class. 6 PM Bend TEAL

Thursday 5.21

🎉 Bend Chamber Centennial Celebration: Join the Bend Chamber as they celebrate 100 years of helping to lift up businesses in Bend. The evening will include hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, and a raffle with some pretty sweet prizes. 6 PM High Desert Museum

🏃‍♀️ Ladies Group Run: Get your run on with a fun group of ladies at this weekly group run departing from Active Culture. 5 PM Active Culture

👾 Pokémon Club: Trade in your supply of Charizards for a level 3 Jigglypuff. Or battle it out with other players to see if you have the strongest set of them all. 3 PM Rosie Bareis Community Campus

♻️ Sort it Out: Confused about what actually goes in your recycling bin? You’re not alone! Come learn from Deschutes County Solid Waste about what to recycle and what to toss. 5:15 PM Redmond Library

🖌️ Pacas, Paints, & Pints: Tired of boring old paint and sips? How about a paint and sip at an alpaca farm? You know you’re interested! 6 PM Healing Reins

🥘 Family Fun in the Kitchen: Bring the littles for a class where they’ll learn how to make healthy meals from fresh, local ingredients. 4 PM Hanai

🚲️ Bent Alleycat Race: Bend’s own bike-messenger inspired race series returns for another summer. These races are part cycling and part route planning. So it isn’t always the strongest rider who takes home the crown. 7:30 PM Mirror Pond Plaza

💸 Taxes, Tourism, and Tradeoff: Join the City Club as they explore how the Transient Lodging Tax fits within Oregon’s highly constrained tax system, what HB 4148 changed, and how the City of Bend, Visit Bend, and Deschutes County are working through new options and tradeoffs. 8 AM First Presbyterian Church

🍄 Mushroom Identification: Want to pick your own mushrooms but can’t distinguish a button mushroom from a chanterelle? Then this is the class for you. 6:30 PM Trinity Episcopal Church

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 5.20

Thursday 5.21

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

Swim Instructors at SafeSplash Swim School
Assistant Director of Creative Technologies & Scholarship at OSU-Cascades
Retail Sales Manager at Harbor Freight
Revenue Analyst at Sunriver Resort
Material Handler at Epic Aircraft

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🚁 St. Charles cuts ties with Air Link

Derek Carlson — Mon, 18 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Fitting that, in a year where the Pole Pedal Paddle had to be rerouted due to low snow, it was snowing at the start on Saturday morning.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🚁 St. Charles cuts ties with Air Link
💻️ Kiln coworking space opens
🍽️ May dinner club

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🚁 St. Charles Cuts Ties with Airlink

Living on this side of the mountains comes with a certain amount of risk, knowing we’re a long (and sometimes snowy) drive away from a major hospital. For 40 years, Air Link provided flights over the mountains for patients who needed urgent care that could not be provided here. The partnership between Air Link and St. Charles is officially over, as they have announced a new agreement with Life Flight. I’m not certain what this means for folks who paid for Air Link membership, and the hospital stressed that this will have no impact on local emergency services (i.e., getting flown from the mountain to St. Charles).

🍽️ May Dinner Club

It’s that time again for our Dinner Club get together. This month’s meetup is happening at 6 PM on Wednesday, May 27th at 6 PM. Same process as always. Fill out the quick survey, pay the $16 matching fee, and we’ll send you to a restaurant with 5 other strangers where you can get to know each other over dinner. And afterwards, we’ll all meet up for a beverage or two at a local watering hole.

Want in? You can sign up here.

📰 Introducing the Oregon Buzz

Love the Bend Buzz and wish there was a way to stay up to date on what’s happening around Oregon? Well, now there’s a newsletter for that, as I just launched the Oregon Buzz (I promise it will include the same puns and topical 90s pop references that you’ve come to love in the Bend Buzz). The Oregon Buzz will be going out weekly on Wednesdays and will be a mix of statewide news, events (think bigger events that you’d be willing to hit the road for), highlights of places from around the state, trivia, etc.

Hit the button below to subscribe, or you can sign up here.

Oregon Buzz

Your weekly guide to what's happening in Oregon

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍔 Alpine Smash Co opens at Crux: I heard y’all like smash burgers? I certainly do, and there’s a new option in town as Alpine Smash Co has opened its brand new cart at Crux. And speaking of Crux, they are also now home to Mountain Mahalo Shave Ice (they opened on Friday), and will be the new home for A Broken Angel (they’re opening on May 19th).

💻️ Kiln opening today: Kiln, Bend’s newest coworking space (and, full disclosure, advertiser with the Bend Buzz), is opening the doors to their brand new space today. I’ve heard from a number of folks who have already signed up or grabbed one of the free passes they gave away a few weeks ago, and I’m excited to check it out myself. Maybe I’ll see some of you there this morning!

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

🧑‍🎨 Your Art Here Screening and Fundraiser: Step into the studios of Oregon artists in season 2 of Your Art Here, a documentary series of short films by independent filmmaker Bec Ellis. This exclusive live premiere invites you to mingle with artists, experience the film, and engage in a live artist panel discussion featuring Lisa Congdon (with additional artists joining as available).

Base tickets are $5, with the option to give toward a treatment fund for local artist Megan Marie Myers, who was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer during the production of this film. Megan is a beloved artist whose whimsical illustrations can be found throughout our city, bringing beauty and joy to many. As a small thank you, donations of $40 or more will receive a hand-signed 5x7 print of Megan’s artwork, available for pickup at the premiere.

*Just a reminder that nothing in this section is ever paid. It’s just our way of trying to shine a little light on folks doing good things in the community.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @goldilocksgrvl |📍 McKenzie Pass
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH JUST-IN TIME APPLIANCE REPAIR

When something breaks, trust someone local.

When your fridge, washer, or oven quits, the last thing you want is to hand your home over to a stranger from out of town. Just-In Time Appliance Repair has been serving Bend families with honest, reliable service since day one, showing up on time and getting the job done right. No call centers, no runaround. Just a local team your neighbors already trust, backed by nearly 200 five-star reviews and the Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave Award.

📞 541-208-4424 | 🌐 justintimeappliance.com

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 5.18

🛹 Skate Camp: All Abilities Flow Edition: A skate session at Northpointe Park open to all abilities, hosted by BoardHouse & the Deschutes Public Library. A fun and welcoming Monday afternoon on wheels. 5:30 PM Northpointe Park

🐑 From Ranch to Runway: The legendary founder of Imperial Stock Ranch shares the story of building one of America's most celebrated wool brands from the high desert of Oregon. A fascinating evening about craft, sustainability, and what it means to make something that lasts. 5:30 PM Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts & Agriculture

🧖 Men's Monday Sauna: A dedicated sauna session for men with Gather Sauna House. Sweat, decompress, and start the week feeling like a new person. 5:30 PM Hanai Sauna Garden

🎨 Watercolor with Victoria: A gentle and beautiful Monday evening painting class at TEAL. Watercolor is forgiving, meditative, and the results always surprise you. 6 PM TEAL Tea & Art Lounge

📚 McMenamins Great Northwest Author Tour: Celebrated Pacific Northwest novelist Willy Vlautin comes to McMenamins for an evening of conversation and storytelling. One of the region's most beloved writers in one of Bend's most beloved venues. 7 PM McMenamins Old St. Francis School

🍼 Milk & Mingle: Join Evermore Midwifery for a free, drop-in feeding support hour for parents in the community. Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding, combo feeding, or just figuring it out, you’re welcome here. 12 PM 130 SW Century Dr, Suite 110

Tuesday 5.19

🐰 Hop into Trivia: Help support Ember’s Bunny Rescue with an evening of funky trivia at Funky Fauna. 6 PM Funky Fauna

🌲 Post 58 Kickoff: Post 58, a non-profit helping to build a generation of resilient, connected, and caring teenagers, has opened a Central Oregon chapter and is hosting an informational meeting for interested teenagers. Their adventures include backpacking, rock climbing, summiting a local volcano, etc. 7 PM Outpost at Campfire Hotel

🚵‍♀️ Technical Climbing with Lindsay: Grit Clinics brings their popular Teachable Tuesday series to Seventh Mountain Resort for a technical mountain bike climbing clinic. Level up your uphill game with hands-on coaching in a beautiful setting. 5 PM Seventh Mountain Resort

🏃 30th Annual Storm the Stairs: Run up the stairs at COCC for the 30th year running—literally. A beloved Central Oregon fitness tradition that's equal parts brutal and deeply satisfying. 5:30 PM COCC

🔥 Wildfire Home Protection Strategies: A practical and timely workshop on how to protect your home from wildfire. In Central Oregon, this is information every homeowner needs before fire season arrives. 5:30 PM Three Rivers School

🌿 Paint Oregon Landscapes with Kristen: Kristen from Chalked Creative is back at TEAL for another guided painting session, celebrating the stunning landscapes right outside our door. 6 PM TEAL Tea & Art Lounge

📙 Graphic Novel Book Club: If your kids are as obsessed with graphic novels as mine are, then they’ll appreciate this book club at the brand-spankin’-new library. 4 PM Central Library

🦆 Happy Hour with Dan Lanning: The head coach of Oregon’s top football squad (sorry, Beaver fans) will be stopping by Worthy Brewing for a happy hour Q&A. 5:30 PM Worthy Brewing

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 5.18

Tuesday 5.19

Elise Franklin Quartet | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday:

☕Sisters Coffee Jackstraw Cafe Grand Opening Party
🎸Unofficial Claypool Gold Afterparty at The Domino Room
🎉 Dilly Dally 3rd Anniversary Party

Saturday:

💪NPC Bodybuilding Cascadian Classic at Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center
😴Pajama Party Brunch at Coyote
🍻Bend Brews & Beyond at Drake Park
🥳2026 Kid’s Day in May at The Village at Sunriver
🕺Studio 61st Grand Opening at Box Factory

Sunday:

🐦Bird Walk at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve
🪴Spring Plant Sale at Worthy Brewing
🥣Pinch Pots with Camp Clay

Live Music:

🎸Damage Overdose at Silver Moon
🎵Slender Gems at Silver Moon
🔊Claypool Gold at Hayden Homes
🥁Shafty at The Domino Room
🎤Yellowcard at Hayden Homes
🎛️Vinyl Williams at Silver Moon

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🚲️ Time for the Pole Pedal Paddle

Derek Carlson — Fri, 15 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! And good luck to all the Pole Pedal Paddlers out there! I hope you shoe laces stay tied, tires stay inflated, and after-race beverages are frosty.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🚲️ Pole Pedal Paddle time
🎤 Concert season is back at the amphitheater
🎉 Dudley’s opens its Old Mill location

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🎵First Concert of the Season at the Amphitheater

Concert season is officially here as the Hayden Homes Amphitheater opens its doors for the first show of the season on Saturday evening. Kicking off the 2026 slate will be comedian John Mulaney with guests Fred Armisen and Mike Birbiglia. The music portion of the concert season gets underway next week with Brandi Carlile on May 20th and 21st.

🏃 Pole Run Pedal Paddle Coming this Weekend

Bend’s most iconic race hits the mountain, trails, road, and river on Saturday as the Pole Pedal Paddle is back for its 50th year(!!!). This year’s course will look a little different, as the lack of snow means the ski legs have been turned into running legs on the mountain. If you can, please try to avoid the Cascade Lakes Highway in the morning as bikers will be making their way down from the mountain.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

👗 The Sainted Grand Opening: Bend has a new clothing consignment store, and they are throwing a grand opening party on Sunday to show off the space. Swing by The Sainted at 1404 NE 3rd St on Sunday from 11 AM - 5 PM to check out the space and enjoy a matcha from Matcha.Bar.

📚️ Dudley’s Bookshop opens at the Old Mill: Big news for local bookshop fans as Dudley’s Bookshop is officially opening the doors today (Friday) to their brand spanking new Old Mill location. Fan of the downtown location? Fear not, as that one will remain open as well. So swing by, pick out a new summer read, and enjoy it as you float down the river.

🌶️ Top Hat Spice Shop Grand Opening: Another Old Mill shop is celebrating this weekend as Top Hat Spice Shop is holding a grand opening to celebrate their new name (formerly Savory Spice Shop). The new name reflects the company’s new direction (don’t worry, though, as they’ll still be carrying all your favorite spices). The party takes place on Saturday from 11 AM - 4 PM.

🍖 Roman’s Island BBQ opens on the east side: Roman’s Island BBQ, a bbq/asian food truck, is celebrating its grand opening at Monkless’s Abbey location off of Wilson Ave. They’ll be open Friday and Saturday from 3 - 8 PM and serving up ribs, pulled pork, sweet & sour pork belly burnt ends, and smoked wings.

🎉 Waypoint celebrates 5 years: And to round out a very full weekend of grand openings and anniversary celebrations, Waypoint at The Grove is celebrating 5 years of serving up tasty beverages. They’ll have live music on Friday and Saturday, along with balloons and cupcakes.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @theaccidentaloregonian |📍Cascade Lakes Highway
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TOGETHER WITH SAFESPLASH SWIM SCHOOL

SafeSplash Swim School is hiring

Bend's newest swim school is opening this August, and they're building their team now. SafeSplash Swim School on Bend's north side is looking for passionate swim instructors who love working with people of all ages and skill levels, from babies to adults.

No prior teaching experience required. If you're enthusiastic, dependable, and love working with people of all ages, SafeSplash will train and certify you. Competitive pay, a brand new facility, and the chance to be part of something new in Bend from day one.

Apply Here

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 5.15

🎻 High Desert Chamber Music Celebrity Recital: Join High Desert Chamber Music as they host a celebrity recital welcoming back legendary cellist Peter Wiley and brilliant Steinway Artist Anna Polonsky. 7:30 PM Unitarian Universalist

🎭️ Newsies: It’s weekend #2 for Caldera High’s performance of Newsies. Catch the show before its gone! 7 PM (two shows on Saturday as well) Caldera High School

🎭️ The Secret Garden: While we’ve got the theatre on our mind, check out weekend #2 of The Secret Garden by BEAT Children’s Theatre. 7 PM (additional performances on Saturday & Sunday) Open Space Event Studios

🎪 Cirque Italia: Be amazed as acrobats take to the air at this water-themed show at the fairgrounds. 7:30 PM Deschutes County Expo Center

🌾 Elevation Farmers Market: The new weekly farmers market at Elevation Bend is back for another Friday. Fresh produce, local vendors, and a great reason to stop by the newly revamped shopping district. 3 PM Elevation Bend

🐶 Page to Screen: Dog Man: The Tower Theatre brings Dog Man to the big screen for a family night that'll have the kids losing their minds with excitement. 6 PM Tower Theatre

🍹 The Stray Bar Pop-up at The Pantry: The Pantry has got your Friday evening plans dialed as they’re bringing in The Stray Bar, a mobile cocktail bar, along with tunes from Elija Alaka, and live portrait painting by the Artsy Adventurist. 5 PM The Pantry

Saturday 5.16

🚚 Truck Time at Skylark: Bring the kiddos to Skylark Academy, where they can get an up-close look at trucks of all sizes. 9:30 - 11:30 AM Skylark Academy

🐣 Baby Farm Animal Tour: Were you really hoping you would get to bottle feed a baby goat this weekend? Kind of a weird thing to be hoping for, but we won’t judge. We will let you know that you’re in luck, though, as Firefly Fields is hosting farm tours featuring their baby farm animals (and yes, bottle feeding a goat is included). 9 AM - 12 PM (Saturday & Sunday) Firefly Fields NW

⚙️ Children’s Museum Popup: Baby goats not your jam? How about letting the littles build, create, and get their wiggles out at the Children’s Museum popup? 9 AM - 3 PM (Saturday & Sunday) Deschutes County Expo Center

🚲️ Saturday Social Ride: Join the Bend Bikes crew for a low-key social ride through town. 3:15 PM Pineridge Park

🌱 Maifest: As Justin Timberlake once said - it’s gonna be May. Celebrate the arrival of our shortest month (only 3 letters!) at Maifest at Worthy Brewing. There will be live music, activities for the kids, and plenty of beverages to go around. 1 - 9 PM Worthy Brewing

🖼️ The Best Fine Art Sale Ever!: Walls looking a little bare lately? Check out the offerings at Tumalo Art Co’s Best Fine Art Sale Ever! 9 AM - 3 PM Grace First Lutheran Church

🎶 Central Oregon Symphony Spring Concert: Experience an unforgettable evening of brass chamber music featuring the virtuosic 27th St. Brass Quintet and the acclaimed Oregon Brass Quintet. 2 & 7:30 PM (and 2 PM on Sunday) Mountain View High School

🧘‍♀️ Strong n' Sweet Yogalates: Yoga in the park season is back! Join Haleigh Smith for a morning sesh of Yolalates (that’s yoga + pilates - not yoga + lattes 😥), all set to a Sabrina Carpenter playlist. 10 AM Pioneer Park

💧 Drip Irrigation Workshop: Learn how you can save water and still keep your plants happy by converting from overhead watering to drip irrigation. 8:30 AM Franklin’s Corner Community Garden

🎶 Cascade Chorale Sing the Pops: These concerts are always a crowd favorite and, lucky for you, there are two days to choose from. 7 PM (and 3 PM on Sunday) First Presbyterian Church

🎭️ Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Musical: Your kids’ favorite book characters hit the stage as the Summit High theatre crew put on their performance of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 2 & 4 PM Summit High

🤝 Peace Corp Volunteer Meetup: Head to the Emerald Loop, where you can meet up with other folks who have spent time volunteering with the Peace Corps. 4 PM Emerald Loop

🃏 Cards & Collectibles Show: Whether you're hunting for a rare rookie card or just love the thrill of the find, the Central Oregon Card Show at the Expo Center is your Saturday morning happy place. 9 AM Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

🌿 Volunteer Project Day: Help shape the future of a new SE Bend park with barbed wire removal and litter cleanup. A hands-on morning that'll make a real difference. 9 AM Future Park Site, SE Bend

🏳️‍🌈 Queer as Flock Park Hang: A laid-back queer community gathering at Pioneer Park. Bring a blanket, bring your friends, and enjoy a spring afternoon outside with the birds. 4 PM Pioneer Park

Sunday 5.17

🥕 Worthy Farmers Market: Stock up on veggies, seafood, and other tasty treats at Worthy’s weekly farmers market. 10 AM - 2 PM Worthy Brewing

🫖 Tea Tasting: Think all black teas taste the same? Think again and learn the subtle differences with a morning of tea tasting at Bend TEAL. 10 AM Bend Tea + Art Lounge

🌙 Community Moon Gathering: Did you have so much fun at Haleigh Smith’s yogalates that you want to hang out with her again? Then join her at the community moon gathering, where individuals can connect with the energy and wisdom of the moon. 7 PM Bend Yoga Center

✍️ Rebels Who Write: Come share your latest writings with a fun group of literary thinkers. 6 PM Location shared after signup

🔈️ Secrets of the Deep: Relax in Flux’s thermal pools while taking in an afternoon of beats, bodywork, and museful magic. 3 PM Flux Lounge

🧠 NAMI Walks: Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness walk at Pioneer Park to raise awareness and support for mental health in Central Oregon. 9 AM Pioneer Park

🎹 Piano Flow Explore at Smith Rock: Pianist Paula Dreyer is back for another season of piano flow concerts and stunning locations around the high desert. She’s kicking off the season with two shows at Smith Rock State Park. 3 & 5 PM Smith Rock State Park

✍️ Intro to Lettering & Typography: Learn the art of beautiful letters at Freak'n Art with a workshop for anyone who's ever wanted their handwriting to look as good as it does in their head. 2 PM Freak'n Art

🧖 Silent Sauna: A silent sauna session at Hanai Sauna Garden, no talking, no phones, just heat and stillness. 3:45 PM Hanai Sauna Garden

🚗 Old Mill Classic Cruz: Come browse an incredible lineup of classic cars at this annual event at the Old Mill. 9 AM - 3 PM Old Mill

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 5.15

Saturday 5.16

Sunday 5.17

Trifecta | The Commonwealth Pub | 4 PM
Bill Powers | River’s Place | 5 PM

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🚚 Basecamp announces food truck lineup

Derek Carlson — Wed, 13 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! While yesterday was nice and all, I think we can all agree that the upper 80s in May is a touch too warm.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🧱 Show off your LEGO skills
🌮 New Mexican food on the west side
🚰 Tour the new public works campus

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

🧱 Show Off Your Lego Skills

Been waiting for the perfect opportunity to show off your LEGO building skills? Now’s the chance, as the Deschutes Historical Museum is hosting a competition to see who can build the best model of a historic landmark in Deschutes County (this can be one still standing or lost to history). Pick from your favorite landmarks like the Old Mill smokestacks, Tower Theatre sign, or the roundabout deer sculpture with googly eyes (never forget). There will be two categories, one for kids under 12 and one for everyone else, and entries need to be submitted by July 3rd.

🎫 Golden Ticket Giveaway

Want a chance to win a pair of tickets to a show at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater this summer? The folks at the Amphitheater are celebrating their 25th anniversary by hiding 5 golden tickets in the Summer Guide that will be going out in today’s Source Weekly. And here’s a hint - two of the tickets will be in issues distributed at locations in the Old Mill District. May the odds be ever in your favor.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🚰 City of Bend Public Works grand opening: Come tour the new City of Bend Public Works campus and explore their public art collection. Visitors can grab a bite to eat at a food cart, meet the artists behind the public art displayed at the campus, and use self-guided tour maps to see the Public Works buildings and the water conservation demonstration garden. Thursday 4 - 7 PM at 21051 NE Talus Place

🌮 New Mexican restaurant opens on the west side: The west side of town has a new option for Mexican food as Casa Sur opened their doors over the weekend (sorry for not giving you all a heads up on the free margaritas 😬). I haven’t tried the food yet, but judging by the reviews so far, it sounds like its gonna be a good spot! You can find them at 335 SW Century Dr, and they’ll be open for lunch + dinner Tues-Sun.

🎉 Bend Chamber celebrates 100 years: May marks 100 years of the Bend Chamber supporting local businesses. For anyone who wants to join in on the fun, they’re hosting a celebration party on May 21st at the High Desert Museum. For the month of May, the Bend Chamber is also offering $100 off a Small Business membership in honor of their Centennial. If you have been thinking about joining, there has never been a better time!

🚚 Bend’s newest food cart pod announces its food lineup: Basecamp Bend, the food cart pod going in behind Powder House, announced the food trucks that will be joining them when they open their doors in June. It’s a mix of old favorites and some new arrivals in the Bend food scene. The carts are:

Midcity Smashburger
Luckey’s Woodsman
Let’s Roll (sushi)
Jazzy Joe Coffee Co
Chonie’s Pizza
Mundrelli’s Italian Kitchen
Thaipas
P53 Fresh (plant based)
Pho88
I ❤️ Ceviche
Kove (Hawaiian food)
El Taquero

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @stoked2eat | 📍Aspen Lakes Golf Club
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TOGETHER WITH SALT AESTHETICS

Ever wondered what it actually feels like to visit Salt Aesthetics?

Take a minute to watch our short video, A Peek Inside. You’ll see plenty of laughs, a calm boutique space, and care thoughtfully focused on one thing. Natural, subtle results.

We keep things simple. A small menu of treatments, done really damn well.

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If it feels like the right fit, we’d love to meet you for a complimentary consultation.

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LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 5.13

📖 Wild Rise of Rolling Stone: Come learn about the rise of Rolling Stone magazine from author Peter Richardson. 5:30 PM OSU-Cascades

🧠 WTF Wednesday Trivia: Think you’re the brainiest of them all? Put that to the test at Prost’s WTF trivia night. 7 PM Prost!

🐆 Kids Studio!: There are still a few weeks of school left, and your kids still need something to keep them entertained on early out Wednesdays. How about with a little art with Freak’N Art’s weekly Kids’ Studio series. 1:30 PM Freak’N Art

🐦️ More Accessible Mindful Birding: Birding should be accessible to all, and the library is making that happen with their mindful birding outing at Riley Ranch Preserve. 1 PM Riley Ranch Preserve

📝 Urban Sketchers Meetup: Take your art to the park as the Urban Sketchers group will be meeting for a morning of sketching in the wild at Pine Nursery. 9 AM Pine Nursery Park

🥕 Bend Farmers Market: It was great seeing everyone at last week’s opening day for the downtown farmers market. And they’re back at it with another day of locally grown produce, baked treats, and more. 11 AM - 3 PM Brooks Alley

🌱 Weed Warriors: Is your backyard weeding proving to be too easy a challenge? Bring those weed-pulling skills to the Camp Polk Meadow Preserve, where you’ll be helping to remove invasive weeds like spotted knapweed, teasel, mullein, and Canada thistle. 9 AM Camp Polk Meadow Preserve

🖋️ Reduction Print Making: Learn the techniques of reduction print making to create your own unique, multicolored prints (for those not in the know (like me), reduction printing is a multi-layered printing process that uses a single block to create a multi-colored print) 5:30 PM Two Suns Art Studio

🔭 Bend Astronomy Club: Scattered across the universe are tiny, bright red objects that, technically, shouldn’t exist. Hear from Dr. Brandon Matthews as he takes you on a tour of these “little red dots” and talks about how they’re forcing scientists to rethink the earliest moments of our universe. 6 PM COCC Middleton Science Center Room 230

Thursday 5.14

🎐 Rest in Rhythm: Pine and Prism is hosting a free community class featuring slow, floor-based movement and supported postures. A perfect way to start off the day right. 7 AM Pine & Prism

🛠️ EDCO Made in Bend Tour: Hit the road with the EDCO crew to tour some businesses that were born and raised right here in Bend. 7:30 AM - 12 PM EDCO Office

👩‍💼 Munch & Mingle: Want to join a group of professional women for a lunch and mingle? Here’s your chance with Connect W’s monthly meetup. 11:45 AM Currents Restaurant

🚲️ Goldilocks Gravel Social Ride: Join a fun group of ladies for a social ride from Discovery Park. 5:15 PM Discovery Park

🌸 Flower Power Workshop: Learn techniques to create stunning, layered mini paintings that capture the abundance of spring at Freak’N Art’s gouache workshop. 5:30 PM Freak’N Art

🦆 Birders’ Night: Spend the evening celebrating all things birds with the East Cascades Birders’ Alliance. 6 PM Worthy Brewing

✏️ Distinguished Writer Series: Listen in as esteemed author Carter Sickels reads from his award-winning work. 6:30 PM OSU-Cascades

🧘 EcoNidra: Connect with yourself and with nature at EcoNidra - a gentle and restorative meditation-like practice. 7 PM Namaspa Yoga

👗 Ladies Night: Find your new summer look and make some new friends in the process as New Friends Bend and Consignment Collective have teamed up for an evening of fashion and fun. 4:30 PM Consignment Collective

UPCOMING EVENTS

🍽️ Chef Gary Shelly presents Stoked Supper Club: Forget the backyard grill. This Memorial Day weekend, Chef Gary Shelly is bringing Stoked Supper Club to Aspen Lakes for two unforgettable evenings under the Three Sisters. Sixteen seats. One table. One chef. Seven courses of locally-sourced food and curated drink pairings. Get a sneak peek at the menu here. May 24 & 25 at Aspen Lakes Golf Club - $135 per person (dinner, drink pairings, and gratuity included)

🐑 From Ranch to Runway: Join longtime Central Oregon resident Jeanne Carver, founder of Shaniko Wool Company (the company behind the official Team USA uniforms at the last five Winter Olympics), for an evening celebrating land, craft, and the generations-long story of ranching in the high desert. Proceeds from the event go towards benefiting the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance. May 18th at 5:30 PM at Pine Meadow Ranch Center

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 5.13

Dark & Grey | Commonwealth Pub | 7:30 PM

Thursday 5.14

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

Language Access Specialist at Mosaic Community Health
Facilities Coordinator at Mosaic Community Health
Enrollment Specialist at Mosaic Community Health
Community Health Worker at Mosaic Community Health
Director of Venue Operations at Tower Theatre
Flower Waterer Extraordinaire at Downtown Bend Business Association

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🏫 New library opens today

Derek Carlson — Mon, 11 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! It’s shaping up to be a hot one on Tuesday. Just remember that the rivers and lakes are still quite chilly!

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🏫 New library opens
🚧 Wells Acres closes at Butler Market
🎣 Shevlin fishing pond closes for the week

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🚧 Wells Acres Closes at Butler Market

Construction of the roundabout at Butler Market and Wells Acres is kicking off, and with it comes the closure of Wells Acres at that intersection starting today. Butler Market will remain open for eastbound traffic only.

🎣 Shevlin Park Fishing Pond Closing (but only for a week)

If you want to take your kids fishing this week, it’ll have to be somewhere other than the pond at Shevlin. BPRD is closing the pond starting today through the 15th. They’ll be lowering the water level to pull weeds and other plants with the goal of improving the water quality. Don’t worry, though, as there will still be enough water for the fish.

🥾 Cascade Lakes Trail Updates

Every year, when the Cascades Lakes Highway opens, the folks behind Hike Oregon (a great resource for hiking and trails both locally and around the state) make a nearly 300-mile drive to check out the status of the trailheads and trails so you know what to expect during our still-early season conditions. Most years, a number of the trailheads are still totally inaccessible, but for obvious reasons, that’s not as much of the case this year.

I’d encourage you to check out the full writeup but a few things to note:

The road to Todd Lake TH is *almost* clear of snow
The Green Lakes TH is snow-free and mostly clear until ~2 miles in
Devils Lake is fully accessible (although the skeeters might keep you away)
Road to Sparks Lake is snow-free, but has a number of fallen trees on it
Bring your bug spray!

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

☕️ Thump Coffee opens a location at the new library: As you may have read above, the new library is opening today, and along with it, so is Thump Coffee. Thump is opening a location within the Central Library so you can enjoy a latte, pastry, or tea, while perusing books or standing around while your kid reads through their 658th graphic novel in a row.

👼 A Broken Angel is on the move: Prepare for a lot of food truck news over the next few weeks as Powder House is getting closer to opening their new 10-truck lot called Base Camp. Not saying that’s where A Broken Angel is headed, just saying there’s going to be a lot of moving pieces soon.

Anywho, over the weekend, A Broken Angel served up the last meals at their Central District location and will be closed all this week. Look for an announcement soon on where they’ll be landing for their reopening on May 19th.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @thebendbuzz |📍Bend Central Library
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH DYNAMO ULTIMA

Your brand should be as bold as your business

Dynamo Ultima is a husband-and-wife brand design studio now based right here in Bend. Lexi and Cody have spent over a decade building bold, one-of-a-kind brands and custom Squarespace websites for 300+ clients worldwide, and their specialty is handmade, hand-drawn logos and illustrations that make a brand feel truly unique.

What sets them apart? Speed without compromise. Choose from a one-day Design Intensive, a three-day Brand Intensive, or a full two-week Brand + Website package. Your brand, done in days.

🌐 dynamoultima.com | 📸 @dynamoultima | 📧 hello@dynamoultima.com

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 5.11

☕️ Coworking & Coffee Shops: Get off the couch and take your work on the road (you might even make some new friends along the way) with coworking and coffee shops’ Monday meetup. 1 PM Location shared after signup

🪡 Paper Embroidery: Last month’s paper embroidery class seemed to be a hit, so they’re back for round two. Learn how to combine thread and paper to create unique designs with this class taught by local artist Lindsey Loughry. 6 PM Bend Tea + Art Lounge

🤞 Bingo with Bren: Come enjoy a round or two of bingo, all while supporting a good cause. Proceeds go towards Street Dog Hero. 6 PM Bevel Brewing

🖼️ Fused Glass Workshop: Spring is in the air (and the glass) at this botanical-themed fused glass workshop. 5:30 PM Freak’N Art

💕 Speed Dating: See if love is in the air with an evening of speed dating (ages 25ish-49ish) hosted by Epiphany Match. 6 PM Stoller Wine Bar

Tuesday 5.12

✨ Wild, Well, & Wealthy: Level up your biz game by learning from the Wild, Well, and Wealthy crew on how to turn your content into paid clients. 5:30 PM The Haven

🏃 Bend Run Club: Make some new friends over a run and requisite post-run beverage with Bend Run Club’s weekly get-together. This month’s runs will be departing from Crux. 6 PM Crux

☕ Commerce & Coffee: The Bend Chamber's monthly morning mixer heads to Mosaic Community Health—a great spot to network, connect, and start the week with purpose. 8 AM Mosaic Community Health

📚 Library @ Rockridge Park: The Deschutes Public Library takes it outside again for a pop-up at Rockridge Park. Books, fresh air, and the best kind of midday break. 12 PM Rockridge Park

🚵 Gravel Shop Ride: Bend Women's Cycling hosts a ride along Dirty Freehub's Water & Lava route—volcanic scenery, stunning landscapes, and great company. One of Central Oregon's most beautiful gravel routes and a good crew to ride with. 5 PM Pine Mountain Sports

🎿 May Passholder Party: Mt. Bachelor celebrates its passholders with a party at Lifty's—one last send-off to the season with the people who showed up all winter. 5 PM Lifty's

🧠 Science Pub: Youth Sports & Mental Health: OSU Cascades tackles a topic that hits close to home for a lot of families—the mental health of young athletes. A timely and important conversation over a cold one. 5:30 PM OSU Cascades Charles McGrath Family Atrium

🔧 Trailside Repair Clinic at GearFix: Learn how to fix your bike on the trail so a mechanical never ruins your ride again. The skills you learn here will save you out there. 6 PM GearFix

🍺 Puzzled Pint: Come alone or join a group and see if you can solve this month’s puzzled pint problem. 6 PM Bevel Brewing

😂 Comedy Writing for Performance Workshop: Learn how to find the funny and put it on stage at The Open Arts Center. A workshop for aspiring comedians, writers, and anyone who's always thought they could be funnier with a little help. 6 PM The Open Arts Center

🎪 360 Allstars: A jaw-dropping performance at the Tower Theatre featuring world-class acrobatics, breakdancing, basketball freestyle, and more. The kind of show that makes your jaw drop and your hands hurt from clapping. 7 PM Tower Theatre

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 5.11

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM

Tuesday 5.12

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday:

🐶 Page to Screen: Dog Man at Tower Theatre
🥕Elevation Farmer’s Market at Elevation Bend
🛼 Friday Night Roller Dance at The Pavilion

Saturday:

🐦Queer as Flock Park Hang at Pioneer Park
🎸Obsidian Music Festival at Silver Moon
🃏Cards & Collectibles Show at Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center
🚣Pole Pedal Paddle at Riverbend Park (finish)
🪏Volunteer Project Day at Future Park Site (SE Bend)
🐷Pig Out at Powderhouse
😂John Mulaney at Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Sunday:

🎹Piano Flow Explore at Smith Rock State Park
🚶NAMI Walks at Pioneer Park
🏮Taller de lámparas de papel en Español at The Open Arts Center
🚶Breakthrough T1D Walk at Drake Park

Live Music:

🌶️The Rumpeppers at Silver Moon
🕺FRACTAL at Silver Moon
🎻Peter Wiley & Anna Polonsky at Unitarian Universalist
🎸Aaron Golay & The Original Sin at Silver Moon
🪕Handmade Moments at Silver Moon
🪇Fortunate Youth at Midtown Ballroom

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🎸 A very busy weekend in Bend

Derek Carlson — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot lately, but there is A TON of stuff happening this weekend (like a ton, a ton), so get those walking shoes ready.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🎸 Homegrown Music Fest
🍵 Pottery seconds sale
💗 Mother’s Day events

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🎵 Enjoy Some Music with a Local Flair

The Homegrown Music Festival gets fully underway on Friday with an impressive lineup of local musicians performing across five stages at the Century Center. The fun kicks off at 4 PM on Friday and runs way past my bedtime. On Saturday, the fest starts at 10 AM with dancing with Get Up and Groove, followed by bands playing from 1 PM to the closing ceremony at 10:15. You can check out the full schedule here.

🌊 Splash Pad Opens at Alpenglow

This one is for you, parents. The splash pad at Alpenglow Park in SE Bend has officially reopened for the summer. The waves (ok - maybe they’re more like splashes) start up at 10 AM and run until 8 PM daily.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🫖 Blue Spruce Pottery seconds sale: Missed out on all the business garage and seconds sales last weekend? Here’s your second chance, as Blue Spruce Pottery is clearing out their inventory to make way for new goods! Swing by their studio at 20591 Dorchester East on Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM and save up to 75% off their regular prices.

🎱 Rally Recreation’s last day: Want to go hang out at Rally Recreation for one last afternoon of billiards, ping pong, or pop-a-shot? You’d better do it quick as Sunday will be their last day in business. After that, they’ll be closing the doors to the NWX location and moving on to new adventures.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @broadusbees |📍The Oxford Hotel
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH WILD BLOOM ESTHETICS

Meet Wild Bloom Esthetics

Wild Bloom Esthetics just opened in Bend, and owner & certified advanced esthetician Elise Lowery is ready to see you at her chic space off of Greenwood Ave. She specializes in full body and facial sugar waxing, an organic hair removal option that's gentle enough for sensitive skin, plus eyebrow and eyelash tinting and spray tanning services.

New to Wild Bloom? Book two services in one appointment and get the second one 50% off (equal or lesser value, one-time use).

Book at wildbloomestheticsbend.com or reach out at wildbloombend@gmail.com.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 5.8

🐦 Wildbird Market: A curated market at The Commons for the nature-minded and the aesthetically inclined. Come browse and find something worth taking home. 11 AM The Commons

🍺 Makers Night at Craft Kitchen: Makers, creators, and builders gather at Craft Kitchen for a Friday night of craft and community. Bring a project, meet some humans, drink something good. 6 PM Craft Kitchen & Brewery

🎻 Portland Cello Project: The Portland Cello Project brings their boundary-pushing, genre-defying cello magic to the Tower Theatre. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

🏳️‍🌈 Dyke Night: One year of showing up, celebrating community, and having a genuinely great time at Dogwood at the Pine Shed. The first anniversary party is going to be something special! 8 PM Dogwood at the Pine Shed

🎲 Game Night at the Museum: The Museum invites you to explore how people played, gambled, and gathered by learning historic favorites like Faro and Keno alongside contemporary games in a lively, welcoming setting. 6:30 PM High Desert Museum

🗝️ Vintage Rendezvous: Come hang at Crux and find some new-to-you vintage styles perfect for the summer ahead. 4 PM Crux

🥕 Elevation Farmers Market: Finish off the workweek by swinging by Bend’s newest farmers market. 3 - 7 PM Elevation Bend (Bend Factory Stores)

🎭️ The Secret Garden: It’s opening night for BEAT Children’s Theatre’s newest performance - The Secret Garden. There will be four performances over the weekend (and more next weekend), so find the one that works for you. 7 PM Open Space Event Studios

Saturday 5.9

🎪 Bend Children’s Festival: Bring the whole family for a day of activities and fun with the Bend Children’s Fest. 11 AM Drake Park

🏃 Community Fun Run: Come join Seven Peaks School for a 3k fun run/walk/stroller push. Proceeds will support the Alliance League and Cinderella’s Closet. 8:30 AM Seven Peaks Playground

🐦 Birding for Breakfast: Early birds get the worms, and the birds. The High Desert Museum hosts a sunrise birding experience that pairs coffee with some of the best wildlife viewing in Central Oregon. 7 AM High Desert Museum

🌺 Mother’s Day at Tumalo Lavender: Bring mom out to the farm, the lavender farm that is, for Tumalo Lavender’s Mother’s Day event. There will be free gifts for moms, light bites and lemonade, and, of course, their picturesque setting to explore. 10 AM - 4 PM Tumalo Lavender

💐 Flower Party: Or maybe bring mom by The Grove to create your own stunning bouquet at Passion Flowers’ flower party. Pricing is by the stem, so you can make it as simple or extravagant as you’d like. 10 AM The Grove

🐶 Paws & Pints: Bring your furry friend down to the old mill for some pup-friendly activities, vendors, and beverages. 12 PM Greg’s Grill

🏃‍♀️ Happy Girls Run: A women's run at Riverbend Park that's all about joy, community, and crossing the finish line feeling great. 9 AM Riverbend Park

🌿 Trail Love: Head out to Wanoga Sno Park with the Central Oregon Trail Alliance for a morning of trail maintenance and outdoor community. 9 AM Wanoga Sno Park

🌙 Moonlight Market: Bend’s grooviest night market is back for a Mother’s Day edition of music, vendors, tattoos, and more. 4 - 11 PM Silver Moon

🛠️ 9th St Village Makers Market: Swing by Bevel Brewing for the kickoff of their makers market series that will be happening the second Saturday of each month through September. 12 - 4 PM Bevel Brewing

🎨 Bend Creators Market, Beauty Expo, and Health Fair: Three expos all under one roof. One ticket gets you into all three. 9 AM Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

🌸 Mother's Day Event at The Grove: Calling all moms! Enjoy a free workout from Bar Method at 9:15 AM, followed by a Mother’s Day market featuring local vendors. 9:15 AM The Grove

💐 Treat Yo' Mama: River's Place celebrates the moms with a proper Mother's Day event. Treat her right. 12 PM River's Place

♻️ 14th Annual Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show: Designers transform recycled materials into runway-worthy looks at The Pavilion. One of the most creative and inspiring events of the season—now in its 14th year. 5:30 PM The Pavilion

🦁 Think Wild's 6th Annual Wildlife Baby Shower: Baby animals need love too, and Think Wild's annual fundraiser is the most adorable way to support Central Oregon's wildlife rehabilitation efforts. Oregon Spirit Distillers provides the backdrop for an evening of drinks, community, and very cute animals. 3 PM Oregon Spirit Distillers

🔥 Hot Mess Fest: An all-women event at Craft Kitchen that sounds like exactly the kind of chaotic, joyful, unapologetically fun Saturday night Bend needs. 4 PM Craft Kitchen & Brewery

🎹 Mostly Low Recital: A trio of Central Oregon musicians presents an evening of “Mostly Low” flute and piano music. The program features the smooth, sultry voices of the alto and bass flutes (with some “regular flute” thrown in). 7 PM COCC - Wille Hall

😂 Bend vs. Boise Comedy Showdown: Two cities enter, one city leaves victorious. A comedy battle at UPP Liquids and Bend's honor is on the line, show up and represent. 7:30 PM UPP Liquids

😂 Paula Poundstone: One of America's most beloved stand-up comedians comes to the Tower Theatre for a Saturday night that'll have you laughing until it hurts. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

Sunday 5.10

🌱 Spring Plant Sale and Farmers Market: Why buy a bouquet when you can (attempt to) grow your own. Pick up some plants for the garden and hit up the farmers market while you’re at it. 10 AM Worthy Greenhouse

🥂 Second Sunday Vintage Market: Gathered Wares opens up for their monthly vintage market. Mother's Day gift hunting has never looked this good. 10 AM Gathered Wares

🎨 Moms! Makers! Mimosas!: Old Bend Ironworks celebrates Mother's Day with makers, mimosas, and the kind of morning that feels like a gift in itself. 10 AM Old Bend Ironworks

🌸 Mother's Day Market at The Bite: A Mother's Day market with local vendors, food trucks, and the perfect last-minute gift situation. 11 AM The Bite

🧶 Crochet Workshop: Learn the basics of crocheting at this 3-part class. By the end of the series, you’ll go home with your own handmade amigurumi project (that’s a cute little crocheted animal). 4:30 PM Two Suns Art Studio

🏋️ Mother’s Day at Discovery Park: Kick off Mother’s Day with a free workout at Discovery Park…or just come for the bouquet building (we won’t judge). 1 PM Discovery Park

UPCOMING EVENTS

🎉 Bend Chamber Centennial Celebration: A special evening at the High Desert Museum honoring 100 years of connection, collaboration, and commerce in Bend—with a Centennial IPA from Deschutes Brewery, hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails, live music, a photo booth, and a collaborative art experience. A festive, polished, Bend-style night worth celebrating. May 21, 6–8 PM, High Desert Museum. $50.

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 5.8

Saturday 5.9

Sunday 5.10

Electric Six | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 7 PM | Tickets

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🥕Downtown Farmers Market kicks off

Derek Carlson — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! The weather is looking amazing, and the Cascade Lakes Highway gate opens bright and early tomorrow for some quality, early-season lake time.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

💐 Mother’s Day event roundup
🥕 Opening day at the downtown farmers market
🎸 Homegrown Music Fest kicks off

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

🥕 Downtown Bend Farmers Market Opens Today

The downtown Bend farmers market is back for another season! Head to Brooks Alley to stock up on locally grown and made goods. Rumor on the street is that the strawberry season is already off to a killer start. Wednesdays at 11 AM - 3 PM Brooks Alley

🚗 Changes Coming to Parking in Downtown Bend?

The Downtown Bend Business Association is putting together a draft plan for what parking could look like in the future in downtown Bend, and they need your feedback. This is sure to stir up some emotions, as part of the proposal would be to change street parking from free to paid. Want to learn more and provide your feedback? You can do so here.

💐 Mother’s Day Roundup in Central Oregon

Its Mother’s Day this weekend, which means it’s time to treat yo’self (or yo momma). There are 1,000 (ok, maybe not quite 1,000…but it feels like it) different things happening, so we’ve whittled it down to a slightly more manageable list.

Saturday:

Treat Yo’ Mama Celebration at River’s Place
Hot Mess Fest: An All-Women’s Event at Craft Kitchen
Mother’s Day Jewelry Workshop at DIYCave
Mom & Me Market at Trampoline Zone
Tipsy Terrariums at Somewhere That’s Green
Mother’s Day Flower Party at The Grove
Mother’s Day at Tumalo Lavender

Sunday:

Moms! Makers! Mimosas! at The Workhouse
Mother’s Day Market at The Bite
Mother’s Day Brunch at Juniper Preserve
Mother’s Day Brunch at Tetherow
Mother’s Day Watercolor & High Tea at Bend Tea + Art Lounge
Mother’s Day Bouquet and Workout at Discovery Park

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍺 The Draft Wagon brings brews in the back of a van: Want to add some beverage options to your wedding, party, or event, but need something classier than a keg in a garbage can? There’s a very Bend solution to that as The Draft Wagon has launched in Central Oregon. Built into a 2001 4WD Honda Acty (I had to look this up, but this is one of those sweet Japanese vans you’ll see cruising around town sometimes), the van features three taps so you can keep the beverages flowing all party long. DM them on IG to inquire about your events.

🌮 Hablo Tacos opens an outpost at The Grove: Hablo Tacos has headed west (although their east side spot is still open, as well) as they have opened their new outpost at The Grove. They’ll be open daily from 9 AM - 8 PM.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @seedtotableoregon | 📍Seed to Table Farm
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH POMEGRANATE HOME

Bend’s beloved gift shop, Pomegranate Home and Garden, is once again teaming up with Central Oregon Flower Collective for a flower-filled summer. This time, they’re inviting vendors to join in on the fun with their Serendipity Saturday Markets. These weekly mini markets will feature locally grown flowers alongside a select group of unique vendors.

Do you have handmade wares, a collection of vintage treasures, or tasty treats you’d like to sell? You’re invited to apply for your booth space here, or contact Marti at hello@pomegranate-home.com. With easy parking, affordable booths, and a supportive community, this is bound to be a blast.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 5.6

🎬️ Sprout Film Fest: This unique event, which focuses exclusively on films that celebrate the diverse lives and creativity of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), strives to challenge assumptions and break down stereotypes. 10 AM Tower Theatre

🟡 The Golden Era: Join Dr. Michelle Mattingly for a monthly discussion about perimenopause and menopause for women who want to understand exactly what is happening in their bodies and respond with intelligence, not guesswork. 8:30 AM Fox & Fern

🤠 Line Dance Lessons: Bring a partner, or just yourself, to The Coyote for their free weekly line dance lessons. 7:30 PM The Coyote

🔢 All About Patterns: It's May, and that means a new month of early out Wednesday art classes at Freak’N Art. This month’s theme is all about patterns. 1:30 PM Freak’N Art

🧠 Trivia Night: Put on those pondering caps and put your trivia skills to the test. 6:30 PM Deschutes Brewery

🐝 ReWilding!: Learn from Jen “bugs” Sawyer (what a sweet nickname) on how to turn your backyard into a beautiful pollinator habitat. 5:30 PM Whistlestop Farm

📖 A Novel Idea Book Discussion: Come chat this year’s A Novel Idea book, Supersonic, with other literary lovers. 6 PM Roundabout Books

🍄 Wild Food & Self-Sufficiency: Now this is my kind of class! This educational seminar focuses on wild foods and self-sufficiency, with a focus on local plants, seasonal awareness, and practical skills. 6 PM Hanai

✏️ Urban Sketchers Meetup: Sketch the world around you with Urban Sketchers as they take their show on the road and into Shevlin Park. 9 AM Shevlin Park

Thursday 5.7

🎵 Homegrown Music Festival Kick-Off Party: It’s go time for Bend’s local music fest as the Homegrown Music Fest hosts a kickoff party. We’ll have plenty more about their weekend lineup in Friday’s newsletter. 6:30 PM Commonwealth Pub

🎻 Central Oregon Youth Orchestra Spring Concert: Head to the Tower Theatre as Central Oregon’s aspiring celloists, flautists, violinists, and more take the stage for the spring concert. 7 PM Tower Theatre

🌼 Frame Pressed Flower Workshop: Make it look like spring in your home all season long by learning how to frame press flowers at this fun, hands-on workshop. 5:30 PM Freak’N Art

🌷 Spring Kick Off: Join the crew from Pollinator Pathways at their spring kickoff event, where they’ll be chatting all things pollinators. 4:30 PM Wintercreek Nursery

🪶 Indigenous Speaker Series: Hear from Artist Frank Buffalo Hyde (Onondaga/Niimíipuu), where he will explore the origins of democracy and how sovereignty is defined and implemented in the digital world of today. 6 PM High Desert Museum

🏃 Bend Trail Series: We missed the kick-off event of the Bend Trail Series (shame on me), but we aren’t making the same mistake twice. If you’re looking for a fun, low-key way to spend your Thursday evening, come join these monthly 4-7 mile races on some of Bend’s best trails. 5:30 PM Wanoga Sno-Park

🤣 Roundabouts Improv Show: What’s a Thursday in Bend without a few laughs? The Roundabouts improv shows are always a hit, and this time they’re bringing their act to UPP Liquids. 7:30 PM UPP Liquids

🎭️ Newsies!: Come support the theatre crew at Caldera High as they kick off their two-week run of Newsies! 7 PM Caldera High

🙂 The Science of Happy Cities: Join Mitch Reardon at OSU-Cascades as he discusses what makes for a “happy city” and how those ideas can be applied to Bend. 6 PM OSU-Cascades

🐯 Jungle Run: The Jungle Run is back at COCC. This 2-mile loop (you can run it once or twice) will take you through mud bogs, over log bridges, and up some steep ascents. You might want to leave the supershoes at home for this one. 5:30 PM COCC Track

🌆 Bend 101: New to Bend? Join the Chamber for Bend 101, where you’ll learn about your new-ish hometown and all that it has to offer. Engage in powerful discussions surrounding Bend’s history, its values, and the many ways to get connected within the community. 5 PM Unitarian Universalist

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 5.6

Thursday 5.7

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

Baker (Multiple Positions PT/FT) at Thump Coffee
Community Service Officer at City of Bend
Mountain Studio Retail Sales Associate at Stio
Community Manager at Solis at Petrosa
Sales Associate at Madewell

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🚧 Cascade Lakes Highway opens this week

Derek Carlson — Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! It’s looking like a spectacular week ahead. Now if only we could get a break from this daily morning smoke…

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🤞 Kids Inc lottery opens
🍓 A pair of businesses reopen for summer
🚧 Cascade Lakes Highway opens on Thursday

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🚧 Cascade Lakes Highway Opening May 7th

Lake season is baaaaaack! The county announced that the roads to the Cascade Lakes and Paulina Lake will be opening for the season at 8 AM on Thursday, May 7th. Grab your SUPs and hit the water (actually, maybe don’t quite yet, it’s still gonna be a bit chilly).

🤞 Kids Inc. Lottery Opens

Hoping to snag some after-school care for your little ones for the 2026/27 school year? The lottery for Kids Inc. is open now and runs through May 13th. For those not in the know, Kids Inc. provides after-school care at nearly all Bend elementary schools until 5:30 PM. But spots are limited!

🔥 An Early Start to Fire Season

This past week has brought more than enough smoke into town, but at least we could rest easy(ish) knowing that it was from controlled burns. This weekend was a stark reminder, though, that wildfire season may be here sooner rather than later, as a 40-acre fire was reported 3 miles west of Sisters. Hopefully, they can get it under control quickly, and we can get back to some smoke-free days for a bit. As always, I’d highly recommend signing up for text alerts at centraloregonfire.org and/or downloading the Watch Duty app to stay up to date on fires in the area.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🛋️ Staghorn Mercantile has a new location: Downtown gifts and goods store Staghorn Mercantile has a new home…and it’s a bit of a drive. They hosted their final sale at the downtown location during First Friday and by the end of the week hope to open up at their new shop in…🥁 🥁 🥁…Sisters!

🌯 Bend Breakfast Burrito is on the move: Although back to a familiar location. Bend Breakfast Burrito has moved out of Ponch’s Place and is back downtown at The Commons Cafe for the summer. You can find them there on Thursday - Sunday mornings. They’ll also be at the Downtown Farmers Market if you need your Wednesday burrito fix.

🍦 Birdsong Ice Cream reopens for the summer: The hottest trend in ice cream has returned for another summer as Birdsong Ice Cream is back open at The Podski. If you haven’t tried it yet, I’d recommend giving it a go. Their fancy swirl machine (I’m pretty sure that’s the technical name) mixes fruit into scoopable vanilla ice cream and serves it up soft-serve style.

🍓 Paradise Produce Stand reopens tomorrow: Speaking of fruit, the Paradise Produce Stand reopens for the season tomorrow (Tuesday). Expect to see fresh cherries, Oregon strawberries, and asparagus as offerings on opening day. They’ll be open seven days a week from 10 AM - 6 PM (5 PM on Sundays).

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @cdub.health |📍Tumalo Falls
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH OUTSIDE THE BUSY MIND TRAVEL

Cruise Travel, Designed to Feel Better

Planning a cruise today involves more than choosing a destination. Travel advisor Dana Cannon helps clients navigate ships, itineraries, and timing to create experiences that feel well-paced, comfortable, and genuinely restorative—not rushed or overwhelming.

Cruising continues to evolve, with more options centered around smaller ships, longer port stays, and onboard environments designed for ease and wellness. The most sought-after itineraries and cabins are often secured early, especially for Alaska and Europe.

Dana will be at the Bend Health & Wellness Fair on May 9—stop by to connect, ask questions, and explore thoughtful cruise planning.

Learn more:
→ What Are the Benefits of Booking with a Cruise Travel Advisor?
→ Fora Advisor Profile

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 5.4

☕ Cowork at Dilly Dally: Start the week with good coffee and good company at Dilly Dally. A laid-back coworking morning for anyone who needs a change of scenery from their home office. 9:30 AM Dilly Dally Coffee

🗣️ Multilingual Monday: Pull up a stool at Broken Top Bottle Shop and join a conversation that crosses languages, cultures, and accents. One of Bend's most quietly wonderful monthly gatherings. 5:30 PM Broken Top Bottle Shop

✍️ Word-for-Word Writer's Workshop: A community writing workshop at Cafe des Chutes for anyone who has stories to tell and wants a supportive space to tell them. Show up with your words — or just show up and see what happens. 6 PM Cafe des Chutes

🌸 Let's Paint Poppy Fields: Grab a brush and paint your way through a field of poppies at TEAL. A beautiful and relaxing Monday evening that'll make you feel like you're somewhere in the French countryside. 6 PM Bend Tea & Art Lounge

🎤 Sing Your Face Off: Come and sing just for the heck of it. No experience (or talent) necessary. 6 PM UPP Liquids

Tuesday 5.5

☕️ Coffee & Clarity: Start the week off right with a morning of coffee and conversation with a fun group of ladies. 8:30 AM The Grove

🎯 Leading with a Purpose: A leadership event at Tetherow focused on impact, intention, and what it actually means to lead well. A worthwhile afternoon for anyone building something in Central Oregon. 4 PM The Pavilion at Tetherow

🌮 Cinco de Mayo w/ The Rumpeppers: The Commonwealth Pub celebrates Cinco de Mayo with live music from The Rumpeppers. Festive, fun, and a great Tuesday night out. 5 PM The Commonwealth Pub

🪅 Hawk & Huck Cinco de Mayo Pop-up: A Cinco de Mayo pop-up at UPP Liquids bringing good energy, good goods, and full fiesta vibes to your Tuesday evening. 6 PM UPP Liquids

🕯️ Hanai Open House: Slow down for the evening at Hanai’s weekly open house. Here you can enjoy a cup of tea, work on an art project, or just enjoy the stillness of their grounds. 4 - 7 PM Hanai

🌮 Cinco de Mayo Party at Papi Chulo’s: Head to the box factory for a fiesta at Papi Chulo’s. There will be music by Mr. Danimals, special margaritas, and plenty more! 5 - 9 PM Papi Chulo’s

🌈 Pink Floyd Sound Bath: This experience blends live music with slow, intentional movement, breathwork, and spacious stillness, gently guiding participants into altered states of awareness. 6 PM Unity Spiritual Community

🎉 Cinco de Mayo at River's Place: River's Place joins the Cinco de Mayo party with a proper celebration. More tacos, more music, more reasons to love a Tuesday. 6 PM River's Place

💃 Repertory Dance Theatre: A stunning evening of contemporary dance at the Tower Theatre. The kind of performance that reminds you what a human body is actually capable of. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 5.4

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM

Tuesday 5.5

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday:

🎻 Portland Cello Project at Tower Theatre
🎵 Homegrown Music Fest at the Century Center
🛠️ Makers Night at Craft Kitchen & Brewery
🧺 Elevation Farmers Market at Elevation Bend
🕊️ Wildbird Market at The Commons

Saturday:

🐤 Think Wild's 6th Annual Wildlife Baby Shower at Oregon Spirit Distillers
🏃‍♀️ Happy Girls Run at Riverbend Park
🚸 Bend Children’s Festival at Drake Park
♻️ Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show at The Pavilion
😆 Hot Mess Fest at Craft Kitchen & Brewery
🤣 Bend Vs. Boise Comedy Showdown at UPP Liquids
🧺 Bend Creators Market at Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

Sunday:

🤣 Paula Poundstone at Tower Theatre
🥞 Mother’s Day Brunch at Monkless Brasserie
🍸️ Moms & Margs at 10 Barrel Westside
🍾 Moms! Makers! Mimosas! at Old Bend Ironworks

Live Music:

Homegrown Music Festival at Century Center
Fern Spores at Silver Moon
Tylor & the Train Robbers at Silver Moon
Electric Six at Volcanic Theatre Pub

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🥕 New farmers market opens

Derek Carlson — Fri, 01 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I’ve got a good one for you today as this is a popular weekend for spring events.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🍷 First Friday & CityFest
🥕 Elevation Farmers Market grand opening
🛍️ Garage sale season

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🛍️ Elevation Bend Grand Unveiling + Farmers Market Launch

Bend’s newest farmer’s market, Elevation Farmers Market, is kicking off with a party on Friday. The Bend Factory Stores are also rebranding to Elevation Bend, so everything is getting combined into one big celebration. There will be live music, dancing, a community mural, vendors, and local farmers and ranchers. The farmers market will take place every Friday afternoon from 3 - 7 PM. Friday 3 - 7 PM at 61334 S Hwy 97

🍷 First Friday & CityFest

First Friday is back and the weather is looking nice! Along with the usual first Friday fun (3 - 6 PM at the Old Mill and 5 - 8 PM downtown), the city will also be hosting CityFest in the Lift Fitness Studio parking lot. There you can find live music, a hands-on community art project, a brief State of the City update, and a chance to connect with the people shaping Bend’s future. Also, make sure to swing by the Commons as their monthly block party is returning (6 - 8 PM) with live music from the Bill Powers Old Growth Band.

🛣️ Road up Pilot Butte Reopens Today

Your days of hoofing it to the top of Pilot Butte to catch the sunset are over as the road to the top of our favorite local butte reopens today at 10 AM. The gate will be open from 10 AM - Dusk daily so that gives plenty of time for you morning hikers, runners, and bikers to still enjoy a little car-free activity.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍖 Runaround Sue BBQ officially opens: More good news for the Galveston corridor as Runaround Sue BBQ officially opens for business today, May 1st. The food looked mighty tasty at their soft opening launch last week, and I’m excited to try it out! The boots of slushy margaritas will fill in the much needed frozen drink gap left by Boss Rambler’s departure earlier this year. They’ll be open Wed-Sun from 11 AM - 10 PM.

👼 Broken Angel 10 year anniversary party: The folks behind A Broken Angel food truck are celebrating 10 years of serving up tasty vegan food in Bend with a party. Make your way out to Harmony Farms Sanctuary on Sunday from 4-6 PM for an evening of farm tours, frito pies, cake, and a chance to gather around the fire pits.

Garage Sale Season

We’re not the only ones clearing out our garages this spring as there are a quartet of local businesses also offering some sweet deals this weekend on gear for winter, your pups, the outdoors, and your dining table.

🐾 Ruffwear Spring warehouse sale: Ruffwear opens up for their spring warehouse sale, and your dog is going to be very well dressed by the end of it. Gear up for the outdoor season ahead. Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - 4 PM Ruffwear HQ

🎿 Between Evergreens parking lot sale: Only 7 months until the mountain opens again for skiing! Start building that winter stoke by scoring some sweet savings on skis, boots, bindings, mittens, and more. Saturday from 10 AM - 6 PM Between Evergreens

🥾 Luno camping gear garage sale: In line for the Ruffwear sale? Then you’re in the right place to score some deals on camping gear from Luno. Most items will be name your own price so come ready to bargain. Friday & Saturday from 10 AM - 3 PM Luno

🏺 Camp Clay seconds sale: Last, but certainly not least (based on the crowds this event usually draws), prepare to score some savings on Camp Clay pottery pieces. Saturday from 9 AM - 1 PM Camp Clay

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @alexsreininger |📍Bend
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH THE AVENUE

Give the gift of a tidy home

This year, skip the flowers that wilt and give Mom something she'll actually use: a genuinely tidy home. The Avenue pairs professional decluttering with simple, sustainable systems so the results actually last. Constance is a certified Professional Declutterer™ serving Central Oregon, and she'll work with your mom (or with you, as a gift) to create a home that finally feels the way it should.

It's the most thoughtful gift on the list. We promise she's been thinking about it too.

Get started at theavenue.us →

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 5.1

🏡 Spring Home & Garden Show: Come browse the services and goods from over 200 vendors who will be showing off all things home and garden related. Friday - Sunday Deschutes County Fairgrounds

🥕 HDFFA Local Food Guide Launch: Join HDFFA at Bend Brewing for the launch of their annual local food guide. The guide is a go-to resource for all things local food including grocers, farms, eateries, and food producers. 5 - 8 PM Bend Brewing Co

🛼 Friday Night Roller Dance: Lace up your skates and hit the floor at The Pavilion for a Friday night roller dance. Groovy, nostalgic, and genuinely one of the more fun ways to kick off a weekend. 7:30 PM The Pavilion

🎭 Telltale Presents: Ride or Die, Darling: Telltale brings a fresh show to Craft Kitchen with an evening of storytelling, performance, and the kind of energy that makes you glad you went out. 8 PM Craft Kitchen

🪅 Cinco de Mayo Party: The Capitol is kicking off Cinco de Mayo weekend early and hard. Think festive, loud, and absolutely no regrets on a Friday night. Get there, get dancing, leave happy. 9 PM The Capitol

🌱 Spring Sip & Shop: Kick off the start of spring market season with an evening of beverages and local vendors. 5:30 PM Fox & Fern

🕯️ Liminal Library: The Liminal Library is a slow, open-house–style First Friday at Pine & Prism — a space to wander, explore, and follow what draws you in. 5 - 8 PM Pine & Prism Wellness Collective

Saturday 5.2

🌳 Bend Tree Project: The city is taking inventory of Bend’s trees, and they need your help! Come join one of their volunteer info sessions (happening both Saturday and Sunday) where they will teach you how to identify and evaluate trees. 10 AM - 3 PM City Hall

🎪 Spring Festival: Join Bend Leadership Academy and Maverick Outdoors for a kid-friendly spring festival. There will be activities for the kiddos along with food, coffee, facepainting, and a fun lineup of local businesses focused on kids, movement, the outdoors, and wellness. 11 AM Bend Leadership Academy (21555 Modoc Ln)

🥐 Maison Kokoro popup: Bend’s newest bakery is hosting a series of pop-ups all month long at Pika Pika. Come try their tasty treats and enjoy an ube muffin on the house. 11 AM Pika Pika

🚵‍♀️ International Women’s MTB Day: The west side trails are in primo condition. Join the ladies of COTA for a ride to celebrate women on bikes. All skill levels welcome. 11 AM Lower Whoops

🚼️ Free Toddler Clothing Swap: Have some unused toddles clothes or need some for your growing wobbler? Head to the Redmond Library for a free clothing swap. No advanced registration required. 2 PM Redmond Public Library

🍺 Bend Beer Chase: A relay race through Bend that ends with beer, which is honestly the only way a race should end. Start at Drake Park and chase the beer through central Oregon! 7 AM Drake Park

🚵 FootZone Dirty Half Training/Preview Run: Get a taste of the Dirty Half course with a 10-mile preview run from Phil's Trailhead. There will be demo shoes from HOKA and post run refreshments. 8 AM Phil's Trailhead

💛 Golden: A K-Pop Kids Party: A K-Pop dance party for the little ones (and their adults!). Pure joy, great music, and very enthusiastic tiny fans. 11 AM The Domino Room

🐴 Stirrup Purpose Kentucky Derby Fundraiser: Sip mint juleps and bet on your favorite horse at The Commonwealth Pub while supporting Stirrup Purpose, an equine therapy nonprofit. The Derby has never felt this good. 1 PM The Commonwealth Pub

🌿 Firewise Native Plant Gardening in Central Oregon: Learn how to landscape with fire in mind using native plants. Practical, beautiful, and genuinely important in Central Oregon's fire-prone landscape. 3 PM Worthy Brewing

🐳 Family Night - Fused Glass Workshop: Bring the whole family for an evening of art where each participant will create their own nightlight or sun catcher. 4 PM Two Suns Art Studio

🎉 VRCCO Block Party: Ponch’s Place is throwing a block party featuring coffee from Lone Pine, a bouncy house, a dog zone, and crafts. 11 AM Ponch’s Place

📚 A Novel Idea: Author Thomas Kohnstamm: The grand finale of Oregon's largest community read program. Kohnstamm's novel Supersonic charts the rise of a boomtown city in the American West where ambition outpaces memory—a multi-generational story that hits a little close to home for anyone watching Bend grow in real time. 4 PM Summit High School

Sunday 5.3

🌸 Fresh Finds Market at Juniper Preserve: A curated outdoor market at one of Central Oregon's most beautiful venues. A perfect weekend browse to welcome spring. 11 AM Juniper Preserve

🛍️ Mother's Day Makers Market: Local makers bring their best to UPP Liquids for a Mother's Day market worth shopping. Find something she'll actually love. 3 PM UPP Liquids

🍽️ Thrown Together Dinner: Finish up the weekend with one of the most unique dinner parties in town. Here you’ll enjoy a four course meal featuring local grown produce which will be served on a four piece serving set made by the artists at Mud Lake Studios. And the best part, the pottery is yours to keep at the end of the night. Make sure to click through Mud Lake Studio’s IG account for a sneak peak of the pottery sets that will be available to choose from. 5:30 PM Mud Lake Studios

🫖 Mother's Day Tea at Tetherow: Tetherow Resort hosts an elegant afternoon tea benefiting Partners in Care. Treat your mom, or yourself, to something genuinely lovely. 2 PM Tetherow Resort

⭐ May the 4th Be With You: Star Wars Burlesque: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... nobody expected burlesque. And yet here we are, and it's going to be spectacular. Silver Moon goes full Star Wars for a Sunday night that's out of this world. 7 PM Silver Moon

🧖 End of River Season Sauna Party: It is time to say goodbye to Gather Sauna for the season at their Riverbend location. Enjoy discounted sauna sessions, a group SUP, raffles, and more! Riverbend Park 1 PM

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 5.1

Saturday 5.2

Sunday 5.3

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🌱 New seed library launches

Derek Carlson — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Prepare for a VERY busy weekend ahead. Friday’s newsletter is gonna be a full one! But first, let’s enjoy the rest of the workweek.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🌱 New seed library launches
🎟️ $30 concert tickets
🍧 A new sweet treat for summer

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

🌱 Seed Library Launches at Pomegranate Home

Worthy Garden Club, Pomegranate Home and Garden, and Central Oregon Flower Collective have teamed up to launch Bend’s newest Community Seed Library! Located inside the Ice House at Pomegranate, community members are invited to bring spare seeds to share and are welcome to utilize their seed envelopes for taking home new varieties of vegetables, perennials, and native plants. This library will also be home to “legacy seeds” from the gardens of loved ones who have passed on, allowing their favorite flowers to continue to flourish in gardens throughout Central Oregon!

🎟️ $30 Concert Tickets are Back

Want to save a few bucks on a concert at Hayden Homes Amphitheater this summer? This year’s block of $30 concert tickets has been released, and it covers nearly 2/3rds of the scheduled shows (if I did my math correctly). The tickets are limited, so I’d recommend grabbing one or two sooner rather than later. And I hope the show you paid full price for isn’t on the list! 😬

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍧 Sno Ball Express opens at On Tap: There’s a new cool summer treat option coming to town as Sno Ball Express is opening at On Tap tomorrow (Thursday). The cart will be serving up New Orleans-style sno balls, which they describe as like a sno cone but fluffier and filled with fun treats like marshmallow fluff or ice cream. They’ll be open Thurs - Sun from 12 - 8 PM for the next month or so before switching to longer hours for summer.

👕 Local nature-inspired apparel brand launching soon: A new outdoor apparel brand called Nature is Dope is launching out of Bend in late May, built by a collective of local creatives. They're leaning hard into sustainability with organic cotton, recycled materials, water-based inks, and every purchase also contributes to planting a tree through OneTreePlanted.org. Follow @natureisdopethreads on Instagram for their launch giveaway at the end of May.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @bentonmcleod | 📍Smoke over Bend
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH FLUX THERMAL LOUNGE

Meet Flux. Bend's only hydrothermal lounge

Flux Thermal Lounge brings a social soaking experience to Bend that's built for everyone. Think multiple hot pools and cold plunges at your own pace, with flexible pricing starting at just $20 and no time limits. Ever. Stay as long as you want.

The cold plunges come in three temperatures: 55°F for the curious, 50°F for the adventurous, and 40°F for the brave. And with regular events like She Soaks, Queer Night, breathwork, massage, and singles night coming soon, there's always something on the calendar worth showing up for.

Fully ADA accessible. Inclusive to everyone. Wellness is better together.

Book your first soak at flux-lounge.com →

🎶 Calling all event partners. Music, movement, meditation, or something entirely your own. Flux loves to collaborate. Reach out at flux-lounge.com/contact.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 4.29

🌋 Volcano 101: The odds of one of our local volcanoes erupting anytime soon are low…but it’s never zero. Learn how to be prepared for an eruption at this class hosted by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. 6 PM COCC

🤣 Moms Unhinged Comedy Night: Join Moms Unhinged for a night of comedy as they explore everything from motherhood, midlife crisis, marriage, divorce, online dating, and other things that irritate us. 7 PM Tower Theatre

🤠 Line Dance Lessons: Concert season is just around the corner, so stop in for a free night of line dance lessons to learn some new moves. 7:30 PM The Coyote

⚡️ Electrification Workshop: Join the City of Bend at this free workshop that will break down electrification in simple terms and help guide you through the resources available to begin your own electrification journey. 5:30 PM Bend City Hall

🖋️ Block Printing: The best art is always the art you make yourself. Freak’N Art will walk you through making your own unique block prints, which can be used to stamp anything from greeting cards to t-shirts. 5:15 PM Freak’N Art

🐦️ Bird Walk: Birding is all the rage right now (or so my sister says). Learn your warblers from your woodpeckers at this free guided walk along Wychus Creek. 8:30 AM Willow Springs Preserve

💐 Flower Happy Hour: Want access to The Hudson’s member lounge and the chance to create your own beautiful floral arrangement? If so, then this class with Flowers by Eryn & Co and Change Your Altitude Travel is for you. 4 PM The Hudson

🦁 Animal Mask Making: Tap into your wild side at this 3-week animal mask-making workshop. 5 PM Open Arts Center

⛏️ Trails on Tap: Want to help give back to the trails around Central Oregon? Come meet the local trail organizations and learn how you can help at this prospective volunteer happy hour at Bend Brewing. 5 PM Bend Brewing

🧘‍♀️ The Slow Down Series: Unwind, relax, and enjoy a moment of peace away from the hustle and bustle of daily life with an evening of breathwork, meditation, and community. 6 PM Hanai

🍁 From Reefer Madness to Legal Cannabis: This presentation explores the history and science of cannabis, tracing its path from ancient and indigenous use through the fear-driven era of “Reefer Madness,” prohibition, and eventual legalization. 7 PM Bevel Brewing

Thursday 4.30

🍷 Witches & Wine Tarot Painting: Create your own witchy tarot cards while enjoying a glass of wine or two. 7 PM Nature’s Bling

😂 Aaron Foster: What better way to beat the midweek blues than with some laughs from comedian Aaron Foster. 7 PM UPP Liquids

⚡️ What’s Brewing: Join the Bend Chamber for a discussion on the future of power in Central Oregon. 5 PM Deschutes Brewery

🩰 Swan Lake: Head to the Tower Theatre for this timeless classic performed by the International Ballet Stars. 7 PM Tower Theatre

💐 Plant a Hanging Basket: The plant a hanging bag class we featured in Monday’s newsletter turned out to be quite popular. If you missed it, here’s your second chance. This time you’ll be working to create your own hanging flower basket. 5:30 PM Whistlestop Farm

🎤 Deschutes County Commission Candidate Forum: Hear from Deschutes County commissioner candidates at this open forum on housing affordability in Central Oregon. 5 PM Open Space Event Studios

🚵 Drops for Oldies: Are you an “experienced” mountain biker (if your knees hurt after sitting for too long, you qualify) who wants to up your mountain biking skills? Join Cog Wild for a course on safely navigating drops. 5 PM Seventh Mountain Resort

☑️ 250 in the West: The High Desert Museum’s 250 in the West series continues with this month’s discussion, which will feature author Susan Kamei and focus on the constitutional, historical, and political ramifications for citizenship and what it means to be an American today. 6 PM High Desert Museum

🧘 EcoNidra: EcoNidra is practically effortless. No sweating, no special outfit, no core engagement, no "good posture." Just lying down and letting the body receive what it's been craving: deep, restorative rest with nature as the guide. 7 PM Namaspa

🕯️ Beltane Women’s Circle: Celebrate the arrival of spring with a women’s circle. Gather in nature to release what you’ve outgrown, set intentions, and plant seeds for what’s next. 6 PM Shevlin Park

🎵 Music Trivia: Make your way over to Terranaut Brewing to show off your music knowledge with a round of music trivia hosted by Quizhead Games. 6 PM Terranaut Beer

UPCOMING EVENTS

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 4.29

Thursday 4.30

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

Training and Development Manager at Mosaic Community Health
Area Distribution Manager at PacifiCorp
Guest Services Supervisor at Seventh Mountain Resort
Guest Experience Manager at Trailhead Lodge
Produce Clerk at Newport Ave Market

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🥇 Restaurant of the year

Derek Carlson — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! If you managed to stop in for the Runaround Sue BBQ soft opening on Saturday, send me the deets! Darn kids’ soccer games cut into my BBQ time.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🥇 Restaurant of the year winner
🚧 Wilson Ave closing for construction
🏓 Rally Recreation closing their doors

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

📰 The Source Restaurant Awards

Every year, The Source puts out a guide naming their top restaurants and food carts of the year. This year’s edition dropped last week (we ran out of room in Friday’s newsletter, so it got pushed to today), and the winners are in.

Restaurant of the Year - Sen Thai
Rookie Restaurant of the Year - Ken’s Artisan Pizza
Food Cart of the Year - NorthFresh Sushi
Rookie Food Cart of the Year - The Dominican

You can check out the full 2026 restaurant guide here.

🚧 Wilson Ave Closing for A Few Months

Sorry, east side drivers, bikers, and walkers 😬 Wilson Ave between 9th and Centennial St, will be fully closed starting today through sometime in July. The railway is doing work on the signal and crossing arms during this time, so there will be no access for anyone until the work is complete.

In better road construction news, the mild winter has allowed crews to get ahead of schedule on the work along Butler Market Rd. A portion of Butler Market has reopened to two-way traffic (although you still can’t get through the full construction zone if you’re headed west). If all goes well, the project should be wrapped up by September.

🤣 Bend Comedy Fest Returning for Another Year

The Bend Comedy Fest was a hit last year, so they’re running it back again. This time they’ve moved it out of the heart of summer and into the first weekend of September (September 4-6). If you want to grab an all-access or VIP pass, you can save a few bucks if you purchase before May 1st. They recently announced the first headliner, Cristina Mariani, and I’m sure there are plenty more drops to come over the next few months.

🍽️ Last Call for April Dinner Club

This month’s dinner club is happening on Thursday evening at 6 PM at restaurants around the Old Mill district. Want to join a club of the coolest cats in town? Click here to fill out the quick survey, pay the reservation fee, and we’ll pair you up at tables of six to mix and mingle over dinner. Afterwards, we all meet up for a drink or two at a local watering hole.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🎱 Rally Recreation to close: Well, this is a bummer, as we were just here for a birthday party the other weekend and had a great time. Rally Recreation in NWX is closing their doors on May 10th. While the door hasn’t been completely closed on a reopening at a new location sometime in the future, this will be it for the current spot.

🌶️ Savory Spice rebranding: Old Mill spice shop Savory Spice is getting a new name. The owners and spices are staying the same, but in May, they’ll be switching up the name to Top Hat Spice Shop. Along with the rebrand, they’ll also be launching a new website where you can order spices for delivery or pickup locally at their Old Mill shop.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

📚️ Early Learning Hub / Imagination Library: Help the Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon ensure that families in our community continue to experience the joy and lifelong benefits of early literacy through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. With the financial support of the Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon, 4,400 children in Central Oregon receive a book at no cost to them each month through this program. A gift of just $15.50 provides a child with 1 book per month for a year.

Make an individual donation here or donate on behalf of your business or organization here.

Do you have a child 0-4 years old? Register them to receive books here. Books are available in both English and Spanish. Every family should have the opportunity to share in the joy of reading!

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @bendcomedyfestival |📍Volcanic Theatre Pub
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH FALLING LEAF TREE CARE

Hey everyone, if you've got tree work to take care of around Bend, Scott's been a licensed arborist here for over 10 years.

If he looks familiar, you might've spotted him up at Bachelor as he's been a ski instructor there for years, too.

He runs Falling Leaf Tree Care, a small family business. He's easy to work with, keeps things simple, and takes the time to actually understand what you're after. Whether it's tidying up a backyard, getting overgrown trees back under control, or just making your yard a little easier to manage through the seasons.

He's got some openings this month and next, so if it's been on your list, reach out for a free estimate.

📞 (541) 241-6239
📧 fallingleafservices@gmail.com
Falling Leaf Tree Care, LLC · CCB# 235548

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 4.27

✍️ Teen Poetry Workshop: The Poetry Art Swap: Ever wondered what happens when poetry and art collide? This workshop dives into ekphrastic poetry—writing poems in response to visual art—then flips it, making art inspired by words. 4 PM The Open Arts Center

🎬 Oregon Movie Trivia: How well do you actually know the films shot in your home state? Put it to the test at Bevel Craft Brewing for a trivia night. 6 PM Bevel Craft Brewing

🏴‍☠️ Pirates of Penzance: Gilbert and Sullivan's beloved comic opera swashbuckles its way to the Tower Theatre. Rollicking, ridiculous, and genuinely great fun. 7 PM Tower Theatre

🍺 Pints with Profs: Join COCC professor of anthropology, Amy Harper, as she explores the culture of drinking. 6 PM Bridge 99

🪐 Out of this World Book Club: Head out of this world and dive into the latest in sci-fi and fantasy writing. This month’s book-du-jour is Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett. 6 PM Roundabout Books

Tuesday 4.28

💐 Plant a Hanging Bag: Ditch the premade hanging baskets (or bags, in this case), and make your own at this hands-on workshop at Whistlestop Farm. 5:30 PM Whistestop Farm

📚️ Social Studies: Here’s a book club that will make you think. Dig into the reading list and prepare for some deep discussions. 6 PM Wildwood Bar & Grill

🗻 Let's Talk About Mount Jefferson: The Central Oregon Geoscience Society heads to Worthy Brewing to dig into the geology, history, and mysteries of one of Oregon's most striking peaks. 5:30 PM Worthy Brewing

🏔️ Adventuring is Different Now: Part of the Empowering Women Through Adventure speaker series at Embark—an honest and inspiring conversation about finding your path forward when your body changes. The kind of talk that meets people exactly where they are. 6 PM Embark

🐝 Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin: The Oregon author brings her newest novel to Roundabout Books for a launch event that sounds as warm and alive as the title suggests. 6:30 PM Roundabout Books & Cafe

🤖 Stay Human: Author Your Mind in the AI Age: Helen and Dave Edwards talk about what it means to stay human as AI reshapes everything around us. A timely, thought-provoking evening for the Nancy R. Chandler Lecture Series. 6:30 PM Willie Hall COCC

🚵 NICA Night at Pine Mountain Sports: Curious about middle or high school mountain biking in Bend? This is your night: a full overview of the Bend Composite team, video presentation, Q&A with coaches, plus details on the team's exciting rebrand and what's ahead for the season. 7 PM Pine Mountain Sports

🏠 Fault Lines: The City of Bend is hosting a screening of this film about growth, housing affordability, and homelessness, followed by a panel discussion with Mayor Melanie Kebler, Senator Anthony Broadman, and Housing Division Manager Racheal Baker. 6:30 PM Tower Theatre

⛏️ History Pub: Oregon Gold: William Willingham takes the McMenamins stage to unpack the history of Oregon mining from the Civil War through the Progressive Era. Gold, grit, and a great pint. 7 PM McMenamins Old St. Francis School

✈️ Passport Social: Come meet the crew from The Travel Group Collective to talk all things boutique travel over a glass of pinot. 4 PM Stoller Wine Bar

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 4.27

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM

Tuesday 4.28

High Country Hustle | Silver Moon | 7:30 PM
Haute Melange | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday:

🦮Ruffwear Spring Warehouse Sale
🏡 Home & Garden Show at the Fairgrounds
🥕 Elevation Farmers Market Grand Opening
🍷 First Friday at the Old Mill & Downtown Bend
🎭Telltale Presents: Ride or Die, Darling. at Craft Kitchen

Saturday:

🎪 Spring Festival at Bend Leadership Academy
🏃Bend Beer Chase at Drake Park
🚴Pedal for the Planet at Farewell Bend Park
🏇Stirrup Kentucky Derby Fundraiser at The Commonwealth Pub
⚫️ The Emo Night Tour at Midtown Ballroom

Sunday:

💐Mother’s Day Maker’s Market at UPP Liquids
🍵Mother’s Day Tea at Tetherow Resort
💃May the 4th Be With You: Star Wars Burlesque at Silver Moon
🍵 Thrown Together Dinner Party at Mud Lake Studios

Live Music:

🎸Low Tide Ritual at Silver Moon
🎼El Ten Eleven at Volcanic Theatre Pub
🎧Floater at Midtown Ballroom
🎶Gathering at Silver Moon
🎤Drifting Roots at Silver Moon
🎸Whitey Morgan and the 78s at Volcanic Theatre Pub

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🥕 First farmers market of the year

Derek Carlson — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! There’s no shortage of things to do this weekend with the Earth Day Fair, Bike Fest, and the first farmers market of the season.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🌎️ Earth Day Fair at Alpenglow Park
🚲️ The Bike Fest comes to The Pavilion
🥕 The first farmers market of the year

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🥕 Farmers Market Season is Back

The first farmers market of the season kicks off this weekend at Worthy Brewing. For the 2nd year in a row, they’ll be hosting farmers, bakers, and makers at their east side brewery location every Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. With our warm spring, you may find more freshly grown goodies than normal for it only being April!

Start dates for the area’s other farmers markets are as follows:

May 1st (Elevation Farmers Market)
May 2nd (Redmond Farmers Market)
May 6th (downtown Bend Farmers Market)
May 22nd (Sunriver Farmers Market)
May 30th (NWX Farmers Market)
June 7th (Sisters Farmers Market).

🌎️ Earth Day Fair Happening at Alpenglow Park

This one doesn’t need too much of an introduction since the kind folks at the Environmental Center and Rethink Waste provided a nice write-up of all the Earth Day Fair happenings in Wednesday’s newsletter…but it never hurts to provide a reminder. The Earth Day Fair is happening on Saturday from 11 AM - 3 PM at Alpenglow Park in SE Bend. While the venue has changed, the event will still include all the greatest hits like costumed performers, food vendors, a parade, and plenty more.

🚲️ Bend Bike Fest Comes to The Pavilion

Spring is here, and so is the Bend Bike Fest. This annual celebration of all things bikes is a great spot to find some new-to-you gear or unload some unused biking equipment. The fest kicks off today (Friday) with the gear drop-off and a VIP shopping event. Saturday, the swap will be fully open for business, along with raffles, classes, and contests. On Sunday, there will be a day of gear drop-off opportunity, followed by another day of bike swap fun. Proceeds from the event go towards supporting the Bend Endurance Academy.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

💎 Silverado Gallery celebrates 28 years: Silverado Gallery in downtown Bend is celebrating 28 years in business! To celebrate, they’re having a rare sale, 20% off online and in store (plus some secret discounts available in store only). Join them Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th, to browse their wares and say congrats.

💐 Flower pop-up opening at the Century Center: Al’s Garden Center is making their way over from the valley and setting up shop at the Century Center this spring. Their pop-up opens today and will be open daily from 10 AM - 6 PM through May 31st, and will feature a beautiful selection of hanging baskets and everything else gardening-related.

👞 Bend Shoe Co celebrates 50 years: And another downtown business is celebrating a big time milestone this weekend as Bend Shoe Co is partying like its 1976 (I did the math and that was, in fact, 50 years ago). Head to their downtown shop on Saturday from 10 AM - 6 PM to enjoy some live music, local treats, and over $5,000 in giveaways!

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @natureisdopethreads |📍Bend
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH CASCADES ACADEMY

SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS FOR K-11TH GRADERS

Register today for Cascades Academy’s summer camps, offering engaging programs for kids in grades K–11. Rooted in experiential learning, STEAM, and outdoor exploration, these camps inspire curiosity, creativity, leadership, and confidence in a fun-filled environment.

Camp CREATE, celebrating its 10th year, features hands-on, creative experiences for K–9 students, including immersive robotics camps and a collaborative Think Wild camp.

Summer Outdoor Leadership Adventures offers exciting expeditions for grades 6–11, including climbing, caving, biking, hiking, canoeing, and overnight backcountry rafting trips.

Use code SPRING35 by April 30 to save $35. Spots fill quickly — secure your child’s place today.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 4.24

📿 Resin Friendship Necklaces: Learn how to create your own UV resin friendship necklace. Make one for yourself and the other for your BFF. The class is open to kids and adults ages 8+. 3:30 PM Bend Tea + Art Lounge

🍆 Dirty Minds Trivia: Usually, we tell you to get your mind out of the gutter, but in this case, maybe it needs to stay there with Craft Kitchen’s scandalously fun dirty minds trivia night. 7 PM Craft Kitchen

🎭️ American Buffalo: It’s opening night for the Cascades Theatrical Co’s newest show, American Buffalo. 7:30 PM Cascades Theatrical Co

🏡 The Locavore Spring Gala: Support Locavore and everything they do for the local food community at their annual spring gala. 5:30 PM Tetherow Pavilion

🎱 Brewery Bingo: Bingo at Ponch's Place with cold beer and prizes. A classic Friday night combo. 6 PM Ponch's Place

🎭 Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812: There are only two weekends left of Greenhouse Cabaret’s spring show. We’ve heard a lot of good reviews for this one, and the remaining tickets are nearly sold out! 7:30 PM The Greenhouse Cabaret

😂 Comedy Night with Crux Crawford: Come laugh with Crux, but not at Crux. UPP Liquids will be hosting the laughs brought to you from comedian Crux Crawford. 8 PM UPP Liquids

Saturday 4.25

🐦 Deschutes Land Trust Bird Walk: Grab your binoculars and spend a spring morning learning to identify the birds of Central Oregon with the Deschutes Land Trust. 9 AM Paulina Creek Preserve

🏃 Run for the Nations 5K: A morning run through the Old Mill District that supports global neighbors in need. A feel-good start to a feel-good Earth Day weekend. 8 AM Old Mill District

🧖 Sauna for Clean Air: Sweat it out for the planet at Gather Sauna House. A uniquely Bend way to mark Earth Day—hot, restorative, and for a cause. 10:30 AM Gather Sauna House

🦅 Nature Kids: Sky Explorers!: A hands-on outdoor adventure for kids at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve focused on the wonders of the sky. 10:30 AM Camp Polk Meadow Preserve

🏥 Health Care Reform Town Hall: A community conversation about health care reform at Trinity Episcopal Church. Important, timely, and worth your Saturday afternoon. 3 PM Trinity Episcopal Church

🎸 HouseBand Summerfest Fundraiser: Young rock musicians take the Volcanic stage to raise funds to take their show on the road to Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI. Come watch the next generation shred and feel very good about supporting them. 6 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🎵 We Are the Music Makers!: The Tower Theatre celebrates the Central Oregon Mastersingers in a joyful, community-centered performance. 7 PM Tower Theatre

🟢 Shrek Rave: It is what it says it is. Shrek. Rave. Midtown Ballroom. Do it for the culture. 9 PM Midtown Ballroom

🧶 Fiber Market Day: Head out to the fairgrounds to celebrate all things natural fiber-related, including their artistic and practical uses. There will be spinning demonstrations, wool shearing, raffles, and more! 9 AM - 4 PM Deschutes County Fairgrounds

🎃 Halfway to Halloween: Break out the Halloween costumes and celebrate with Funky Fauna at their halfway to Halloween party. 1 PM Funky Fauna

Sunday 4.26

🐦 Bird Walk: Another gorgeous morning walk with binoculars—this time at Indian Ford Meadow. Spring migration season means the birds are putting on a show. 8:30 AM Indian Ford Meadow Preserve

🚴 Water & Lava Ride with the Rock Doc: Hop on your bike and explore Central Oregon's volcanic geology with an actual geologist leading the way. Equal parts workout and mind-expanding science lesson. 11 AM Cascade Lakes Welcome Center

🍽️ Neighbor Impact Foodie Crawl: Eat your way across Bend while supporting Neighbor Impact's hunger relief programs. Delicious, community-minded, and a very good Sunday afternoon. 2 PM Various locations

🧠 2026 Walk ALS Central Oregon: Lace up and walk with the Central Oregon ALS community at Riverbend Park. 12 PM Riverbend Park

🧗 Mellow Film Tour: A curated evening of climbing films at Volcanic Theatre Pub—vertical walls, impossible routes, and the kind of cinematography that makes you want to immediately find a crag. 7 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🧘‍♀️ Sacred Energy & Sound Healing: A transformative 2-hour journey combining Breathwork, Reiki, Kundalini Activation, and Sound Healing to release stress & stored emotions, regulate your nervous system, and reconnect with your inner wisdom. 4 PM Hanai

🦫 Plant and Beaver BioBlitz: Join Beaver Works Oregon and Mara Huang of the Native Plant Society of Oregon to explore the natural history and identification of wetland plants and beaver sign! 9 AM Tetherow Crossing Park

🔔 Reiki + Sound Bath: Two powerful healing modalities. One transformative experience. Soothing sound and 1:1 Reiki come together for an immersive, full-body reset designed to leave you refreshed, balanced, and recharged. 11 AM Hawthorn Healing Arts

🥳 Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo: You know the drill by now. Grab a table and get your Sunday started right with the liveliest bingo in town. 9:30 AM Silver Moon

UPCOMING EVENTS

🏔️ Bend 101: A welcoming, behind-the-scenes look at Bend’s history, growth, tourism, and community—designed for newcomers and longtime locals alike who want to get more involved. Join the Bend Chamber for local insight, great speakers, bites, beverages, and connections. Thursday, May 7th at 5 PM, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship - $15

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 4.24

Saturday 4.25

Sunday 4.26

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🥞 A new spot for breakfast?

Derek Carlson — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I’ll see you all at the pickleball meetup tomorrow. I’ve been practicing a little, so watch out (just kidding, I’m still awful at it).

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🚚 Smith Rock Records moving
☕️ Sisters Coffee opening their new location
🍻 Bend Brews & Beyond returning

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

🍻 Bend Brews & Beyond Returns

After its inaugural edition last year, Bend Brews & Beyond is coming back for another round, and this year, they’re making some changes. Three pieces of feedback they received most often last year were a) the tickets were too expensive, b) there was no live music, and c) dogs weren’t allowed. So this year, tickets are $5-$10 cheaper, there will be 4 local bands on tap, and well-behaved, leashed dogs will be allowed. Tickets are on sale, and the event will be happening on May 23rd at Drake Park.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🎧Smith Rock Records moving…but not far: More changes are happening downtown, but in the grand scheme of things, this one is relatively minor. Smith Rock Records is moving from its current location in the (totally not) haunted O’Kane Building across the street to the Stereo Planet building (way less ghosts here). They’ll be moving over the next few weeks and should be fully settled into their new space sometime next month.

☕️ Sisters Coffee opening at Jackstraw: The new-ish Jackstraw building is getting its second commercial tenant this week as Sisters Coffee will be soft opening their new space tomorrow, April 23rd. We haven’t peeked in the windows yet, but from what we’ve seen on Instagram, the space looks pretty nice!

🥞 Dear Mom to launch a breakfast menu: The folks behind Dear Mom have been keeping busy lately with their cafe and slinging brioche donuts (Oh My Goodness Bakery) all over town. And now, they’ve got one more thing in the works. Starting sometime in late May or early June, they’ll be launching a breakfast menu at Dear Mom with items like Japanese coffee pancakes with tiramisu or matcha cream. We’ll keep you up-to-date on when the menu officially launches!

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

🏓 Dink for a Cure: A community pickleball fundraiser is being hosted on June 6th at Bend RV Resort to support breast cancer research through the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund. Local runners Ally Thompson and Justin Burns are competing in the NYC Marathon for Team Baldwin, and this event is part of their fundraising effort.

They are also currently curating high-quality swag bags and would love to feature your local business. They are seeking items such as free drinks or food items, sample-sized sunscreens, socks, and other small items or gift cards to include.

You can register your team here or reach out to Dacia Farley at (541) 430-1657 or by email at daciafarley@gmail.com if you’d like to donate items for the swag bags.

🫘 Support the Bend Food Project: Help our community, one green bag at a time! Join the Bend Food Project and be part of a simple, powerful way to give back. Every other month, leave a bag of nonperishable food on your doorstep, and a volunteer Neighborhood Coordinator will pick it up and deliver it to The Giving Plate Food Pantry. We are currently looking for:

1) Food Donors: Donate one bag of food every other month

2) Neighborhood Coordinators: recruit your fellow neighbors and friends and collect food every other month.

Find out more at bendfoodproject.com

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @sisterscoffee | 📍Jackstraw Building
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH RETHINK WASTE

Recycling can feel confusing, but it’s now more consistent across Oregon—including here in Deschutes County. Keep it simple: recycle plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs (at least 2x2 inches). Items like clamshells and cups don’t belong. Plastic bags and wrap aren’t accepted in commingled bins but can go to RecycleOn Centers.

For fiber, recycle clean, dry cardboard and paper—like boxes, pantry packaging, and junk mail. Skip freezer boxes with plastic lining.

Aluminum and tin cans are recyclable, and glass is too, it just needs to be separated.

When in doubt, check before you toss, recycling right makes a big difference!

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 4.22

🥾 Quest for the Boiling River: Come along with National Geographic for a film that takes you deep inside the Peruvian jungle in search of a sacred boiling river. 6:30 PM Tower Theatre

🌎️ Earth Day Eco Prints: Celebrate Earth Day with a class on eco printing. Here you’ll learn how to decorate a cotton tote or shirt with prints using pansy flowers. 5:15 PM Freak’N Art

🧠 Earth Day Upcycle Workshop and Trivia: Looking for another way to celebrate the planet we all call home? How about an upcycling workshop and Earth Day trivia night? 5 PM Wondery Art + Adventure School

♻️ Earth Day Habitat Cleanup: Take a drive out to the Crooked River for a morning of habitat cleanup with the crew from Think Wild. Here you’ll help remove invasive plant species to make room for native wildflowers and shrubs, while also painting pollinator-themed stepping stones for their park pathway. 10 AM Crooked River Park

🐦️ Bird Walk: Visit one of Central Oregon’s birding hotspots on a guided bird walk with the Deschutes Land Trust. 8 AM Camp Polk Meadow Preserve

🖌️ The Magic of Color: Let your school-aged little ones learn about the magic of color at this early out Wednesday class with Sarah from Let’s Paint. 1 PM Tower Theatre

🗑️ Trash to Treasure: Turn your trash into treasure at this class, where you’ll learn how to take ordinary items like bottle caps to broken toys and turn them into beautiful art. 3 PM Open Arts Center

🔥 From Powder Season to Fire Season: Ski season is over, and, unfortunately, that means fire season isn’t far off. Hear from an expert panel on what Bend’s future may look like in a changing world. 5:15 PM Location provided after registration

📂 Declutter Your Digital Landscape: Tired of constantly looking at the 10,000 unread emails badge on your phone? Don’t let digital clutter get in the way of your mental well-being. This guided workshop will explore our digital habits while gently clearing what’s no longer needed. 6 PM Hanai

👩‍💼 Deschutes Women in Business: Join Deschutes Women in Business at their quarterly meeting. This month’s focus will be on what shift actually looks like in practice. 4 PM Tetherow Resort

Thursday 4.23

🥊 Self Defense Class: Learn the basics of self-defense at this free (for first timers) class at Tula. 7:30 PM Tula

🐝 Garden Poetry: Take to the garden and let the flowers and the bees bee your inspiration as you put words to paper. 3 PM COCC-Pollinator Garden

🍺 EDCO PubTalk: Hear from some of Central Oregon’s top business minds as you shake hands and enjoy a cold beverage or two. 4:30 PM Open Space Event Studios

🏺 Pottery Handbuilding: Want to try your hand at pottery but are intimidated (or don’t have the space) for a wheel? This multi-week class on handbuilding will take you through the full process of creating functional serving ware, from concept to finished glazed pieces. 5:30 PM Camp Clay

🧶 Crochet for Beginners: Muddy clothes not your style? How about crocheting instead? By the end of the evening, you’ll leave with a beautiful handmade basket created with your own two hands. 5:30 PM Freak’N Art

🎬️ Adapted: Driven by unbreakable willpower, three adaptive athletes — Josh Hancock, Anna Soens, and Danielle Doelling — embark on a daring and personal adventure with the hope of finding new ways to access places that make them feel most alive. 6:30 PM Tower Theatre

🌳 Got Juniper?: Come learn about the tree that has made itself known in the high desert landscape. The talk will distinguish old‑growth juniper from its younger counterparts, explain juniper–water relationships, and highlight what realistic rangeland restoration looks like in Central Oregon. 5 PM Larkspur Community Center

👩‍🎨 An Artist’s Memoir: Join local artist Mary Marquiss to discuss her new book, Behind the Painting: An Artist’s Memoir, in conversation with Heidi Berkman. 6 PM Roundabout Books

🎭️ She Kills Monsters: Come support the Summit Theatre crew at the opening of their new performance, She Kills Monsters. Can’t make this one? There are shows happening all weekend, so you’ve got plenty of options. 7 PM Summit High School

⚪️ The Embodied Wisdom Wheel: Join Good Grief Bend for a free intro night to their embodied wisdom wheel, where you can learn how to process grief in a way that works for you. 6 PM The Cottage

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 4.22

Thursday 4.23

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

Solar Racker at Sunlight Solar Energy
Hardscape Landscaper at Roots Rock Landscaping
Municipal Court Supervisor at City of Bend
Event Staff at Tetherow Resort
Regional Banking Business Advisor at OCCU

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🏂️ Winter season ends at Bachelor

Derek Carlson — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Time to put away the skis and start pumping up those paddleboards.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

💕 Get your Meet Market tickets
🐶 A pair of pet-friendly businesses launch
🏂️ Winter season ends at Bachelor

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

⛷️ Winter Season at Bachelor Comes to a Close

Well, that was certainly a season for the books…and not necessarily in a good way. The snowstake is gone, and the book is officially closed on the 2025/26 winter season at Bachelor. There is still snow on the mountain, but the lifts are done, and the slopes are unpatrolled (so you’ll be earning your turns at your own risk). At least the west side mountain bike trails are riding well already…

⚾️ Bend Elks Make Lighting Upgrades

The Bend Elks kick off their season late next month, and attendees will notice some fancy new lights at Vince Genna Stadium. Their old lighting setup from the 70s is gone, and a new LED system is now in place. The new lights are designed to reduce light pollution around the stadium and will also allow for some fancy light shows when the Elks hit a home run. The upgrades also earned a DarkSky certification by DarkSky International.

🤝 Meetup Reminders

A couple of quick updates on our upcoming events. The ladies’ tickets for the Meet Market singles event happening on May 7th have already sold out! There are still some tickets left for the guys, so if you’ve been dragging your feet, you’d best get on it!

Second is a reminder that our pickleball meetup is happening at Ballers & Brews this Thursday from 5-7 PM. All are welcome to come hang, play some pickleball (they’re supplying all the paddles and balls, so beginners are welcome), and enjoy some tasty food and drink. You can RSVP here.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🐶 Bend local launches a new way to take care of your furry friend: Have a pup that is feeling a little off, and you want some help fast? A new app called Luna was created to solve just that problem. Built by a local family with more than 60 years of combined veterinary experience, Luna gives pet owners instant, research-backed answers, 24/7 access to licensed veterinary professionals, and personalized longevity plans to help pets live longer, healthier lives. They sent me a discount code that you all can use to save 10% on a Luna membership - BUZZ.

🐶 Another way to keep your pup healthy: And while we’re on the topic of healthy pets, a new way to get your pup the play it deserves has just opened. Dusty Dogs is a small-group, adventure-focused dog walking/adventure service. They have slots available throughout the week to get your pup off the couch and out on the trails, and pick up/drop off is always included.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

💙 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Every adult can help protect kids in our community. How? By getting trained in child abuse prevention. KIDS Center offers free trainings on internet safety, body safety, and more. Find upcoming trainings near you and register at kidscenter.org/upcoming-trainings.

💓 Looking for a creative and meaningful way to spend your summer?

Hearts Unknown Education (HUE) is a community-based program that uses art, creativity, and connection to support youth well-being, offering a space where kids can explore, express themselves, and feel seen. They’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to spend time with kids in a supportive, creative environment—no art experience needed, just bring your energy, curiosity, and an open heart. It’s a chance to connect, have fun, and make a meaningful impact in our community. For more information, please call or text Nico Carpinelli at (541) 213-0679

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @thepavilioninbend |📍The Pavilion
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH JUST-IN TIME APPLIANCE REPAIR

Your appliances don't take a day off and neither does Just-In Time.

When your fridge, washer, or oven decides to quit, you need someone who actually shows up. Just-In Time Appliance Repair has built a reputation in Bend for honest diagnosis, clear communication, and getting things running again without the runaround. And they've backed up that reputation with nearly 200 five-star reviews and the Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave Award.

No call centers. No multi-month waits. Just friendly, local, and reliable service.

📞 541-208-4424 | justintimeappliance.com

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 4.20

🚶 Founders Walk: Want to talk business and life over a coffee and a walk along the Deschutes? Here’s your chance! 9 AM Sisters Coffee (Old Mill)

🪴 420 Fest: Head over to Cheba Hut to celebrate 4/20 with a market featuring local vendors, live music, and special deals on nug-sized sammys. 12 PM Cheba Hut

🪡 Paper Embroidery: Try your hand at paper embroidery and create a one-of-a-kind piece of art at this hands-on class taught by artist (and founder of Love in a Letter) Lindsey Loughry. 6 PM Bend Tea & Art Lounge

✍️ Teen Spoken Word Poetry Workshop: A creative space for teens to find their voice through spoken word at The Open Arts Center. The kind of workshop that sticks with you. 4 PM The Open Arts Center

🗳️ County Commissioner Candidates Forum: Meet the people running to represent you and ask the questions that matter. Democracy is a participation sport—show up! 5:30 PM Deschutes Services Building

💧 Who Uses the Water in Central Oregon?: A timely and genuinely important conversation at Worthy Brewing about water rights, water use, and what the future of Central Oregon's most precious resource looks like. Worth your Monday evening. 6 PM Worthy Brewing

🧠 Trivia Night: Head to Greg’s Grill for an evening of trivia to get the week started off right. 5:30 PM Greg’s Grill

Tuesday 4.21

☕️ Coffee & Clarity: Get your week started off right with a morning of coffee and conversation with a fun group of ladies. 8:30 AM The Grove

🏘️ Let's Talk Housing Solutions: Join Central Oregon YIMBY, 1000 Friends of Oregon, and Central Oregon LandWatch for an interactive workshop and presentation exploring policy strategies for addressing the housing crisis and what you can do about it. 5:30 PM Open Space Event Studios

🎻 Poetry & Music: The Lumina Flute Trio will present musical offerings inspired by poetry, classical nursery rhymes, and the ever-present growth of life. 4 PM COCC-Barber Library

🇪🇸 Lunch & Learn: Put your Spanish speaking skills to the test over a cerveza and empanadas at this low-key meetup. 12 PM Los Andes

🌱 Science Pub: As I Lay Drying: OSU Cascades brings another science pub diving right into drought, drying landscapes, and what that means for Central Oregon. Come for the science, stay for the conversation. 5:30 PM OSU Cascades Charles McGrath Family Atrium

🎨 Paint Oregon Landscapes: Kristen from Chalked Creative guides you through painting the stunning landscapes right outside your door. 6 PM Bend Tea & Art Lounge

🧗 Ladies Climb Night: A dedicated climbing night for women at Bend Rock Gym—supportive, fun, and a great way to build strength and community at the same time. 6:30 PM Bend Rock Gym

🎬 "Promised Land" Documentary Screening: Head to the Tin Pan Theatre for a screening of Promised Land, an award-winning social justice documentary that follows two tribes in the Pacific Northwest: the Duwamish and the Chinook, as they fight for the restoration of treaty rights they've long been denied. 6:30 PM Tin Pan Theatre

UPCOMING EVENTS

📿 Resin Friendship Necklace Class: Join Jade at the Bend Tea + Art Lounge as she walks you through how to create your own beautiful resin friendship necklace. During the class, you’ll design, make, and leave with a set of two interlocking necklaces, one for you and one for your BFF. Ages 8+. 3:30 PM on Friday, April 24th at Bend TEAL

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 4.20

Tuesday 4.21

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday:

🥗 Rooted and Rising at Tetherow
🎭️ She Kills Monsters at Summit High School
🍻 Brewery Bingo at Ponch’s Place
🌱 Monstera Stained Glass at Bend TEAL
🎭️ Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Greenhouse Cabaret

Saturday:

🎤 Central Oregon Mastersingers at Tower Theatre
🚲 Bend Bike Fest at The Pavilion
🌎️ Earth Day Fair at Alpenglow Park
🪩 Shrek Rave at Midtown Ballroom
🥷 Ninja Night/Parents Night Out at Free Spirit
🏃 Run for the Nations 5k at the Old Mill

Sunday:

🥙 NeighborImpact Foodie Crawl
🪩 Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo at Silver Moon
🐦️ Bird Walk at Indian Ford Meadow Preserve
🚲️ Gravel Bike Ride with a Geologist at Cascade Lakes Welcome Center
🧗‍♀️ Mellow Film Tour at Volcanic Theatre Pub

Live Music:

🎸 Piña Colada at Hawkeye & Huckleberry
☮️ Deadhead Disco at Volcanic Theatre Pub
🎵 Sierra Hull at Tower Theatre
🎼 Chained to Stone at Silver Moon
🥁 That 90s Band at Silver Moon
🎶 Armchair Boogie at Silver Moon

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

⛷️ Last weekend at Bachelor

Derek Carlson — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! It’s another busy weekend in town! I think Saturday’s event lineup has the most listings I’ve ever included for a single day, so there should be a little bit of something for everyone.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🍺 Ale Apothecary’s final weekend
⛷️ Last weekend at Bachelor
📸 Traffic enforcement cameras are live

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🚧 Cascade Lakes Highway Opening Early After All?

A few weeks back, we shared that the Cascade Lakes Highway likely wouldn’t be opening early this year despite the record-low snowpack. But now, that may be changing. Deschutes County shared that crews are in the process of clearing the roads, and they could open as early as late April. We’ll see, though, if this week’s higher elevation snowfall has any impact on that timeline.

📸 Traffic Enforcement Cameras are Live

You may want to think twice about running a red light or speeding through a few select Bend intersections (although you should never be doing that stuff anyway, right?), as the traffic enforcement cameras at Reed Market & 3rd St, 27th St & Neff, and Powers & S Hwy 97, are now live. The cameras will go off if you’re going 11 MPH over the speed limit or do not stop for a red light (this includes right-hand turns). During the first 30 days, you’ll get a warning, but after that, it’s ticket city.

🛼 The Pavilion Reopens for Summer

It’s officially summer in Bend (ok, maybe that’s not quite technically true) as The Pavilion ice is gone and the roller rink is reopening today! So lace up those skates and get ready for another season of evening roller parties.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🥐 French / Asian pâtisserie coming to Bend: We shared a little preview of this in Wednesday’s newsletter, but we want to make sure the word gets out properly. It’s looking like a new pâtisserie is opening soon(ish) that will include elements of both French and Asian baking. Maison Kokoro will be popping up at Pika Pika sometime next month and hopes to celebrate their grand opening in the fall. More details to come!

🍻 Ale Apothecary final weekend: We shared the news a while back that Ale Apothecary would be moving out of their space at the Century Center, and this weekend, they’re holding a goodbye party of all goodbye parties. There are 10 bands on tap to play both Friday and Saturday afternoon/evenings, so stop by, enjoy a brew, and take in some tunes to say farewell. Hopefully, this isn’t goodbye for good, as they’ve said they hope to find a new space.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @mtbachelor |📍Mt. Bachelor
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH AUDREY CHITWOOD MASSAGE

Spring is a great time to take care of your body

While you're refreshing your home, why not give yourself the same reset? Audrey Chitwood Massage offers deep, restorative bodywork in the heart of downtown Bend, specializing in deep tissue massage and cupping therapy to relieve tension and improve mobility. Audrey also works with clients recovering from injuries and accepts motor vehicle accident insurance and is in the process of becoming an in-network provider for Regence and PacificSource insurance.

Book at audreychitwood.com or call (541) 420-9419.

🌸 Spring Special — $10 Off for First-Time Clients

New to Audrey? Mention this offer when you schedule and enjoy $10 off your first session.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 4.17

🎿 RendezVan: Celebrate the last weekend of skiing (or is it???) with the biggest party of the year at Bachelor. All Weekend Mt. Bachelor

💃 Get Up & Groove: What better way to usher in the weekend than by shaking your tail feather with the crew from Get Up & Groove. 7:45 AM The Commons Cafe

👖 Denim Night: Casa de Stela transforms into a working denim workshop for one night only. Choose from hundreds of Levi's, then get your pieces tailored, repaired, or chain-stitched. Customize jackets and bandanas with icons, stars, initials, and more—plus a free photo booth to document the look. 5 PM Casa de Stela

🌬️ Breathwork, Yoga, Silent Disco: Start with breathwork, move through yoga, and end with a silent disco, all outdoors at Tumalo State Park. One of the more uniquely magical Friday evenings on the calendar. 5:30 PM Tumalo State Park

🏔️ Banff Mountain Film Festival: Support the Realms schools at this year’s Banff Mountain Film Fest at the Tower Theatre. 7 PM Tower Theatre

🌱 Spring Social: Come hang with the team from the Native Plant Society of Oregon at their annual spring social at Wintercreek Nursery. 4:30 PM Wintercreek Nursery

🌍️ Earth Day Fashion Show: Watch as students and staff from COCC and OSU-Cascades strut their stuff on the runway at the annual Earth Day fashion show. The event is the annual fundraiser for the Clothing Connection, a free donated clothing service for students of COCC and OSU-Cascades. 4:30 PM COCC

💿 Bass in Bend: The bass heads are back at Silver Moon for another night of deep, thumping, floor-vibrating goodness. If last time wasn't enough, here's your second chance. 9 PM Silver Moon

Saturday 4.18

🐟 Salmon Run: Lace up and hit Riverbend Park for this beloved Bend race. Whether you're racing for time or just racing for the post-run vibes, it's a great morning by the river. 9 AM Riverbend Park

🪩 80s Brunch Party: Throw on some neon leg warmers, dial up the latest Paula Abdul hit on your walkman, and head over to The Coyote for an 80s brunch complete with champagne towers, brunch specials, and fun shopping vendors. 11 AM The Coyote

⏺️ $2 Vinyle Sale: Browse thousands of records, which are all on sale for just $2! 10 AM - 6 PM VinylStop

🏺 Mud Lake Studio Seconds Sale: Come browse a big selection of slightly imperfect pottery from the artists at Mud Lake Studio. All pieces are priced at either $5, $10, $15, or $20. 9 AM - 4 PM Mud Lake Studios

🌱 Lavender 101: Make your lavender plant the envy of the neighborhood with Lavender 101 at Tumalo Lavender. This hands-on class includes a farm tour and info session on growing your own beautiful plants. 10 AM Tumalo Lavender

👧 Kids' Entrepreneur Market: Little business owners set up shop at the Elks Lodge to sell their products and practice their pitches. Come support the next generation of Bend entrepreneurs. 1 PM Elks Lodge

🎣 Fishing Paddle Craft Showcase & Clinic: Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe brings together fishing and paddle craft for a morning of demos, clinics, and gear talk. A dream combination for anyone who'd rather be on the water. 10 AM Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe

🐛 Bug Sculptures for Kids: Little hands, big creativity as kids build bug sculptures at TEAL in what sounds like an absolutely delightful Saturday morning activity. 11 AM TEAL Tea & Art Lounge

🏈 📣 Oregon Lightning Football & Cheer Camp: Oregon’s only professional football team, the Oregon Lightning, is hosting a cheer camp and football camp for kids ages 7-14. 2 PM Caldera High School

🐶 Hungry Hound Woof Fest: Woof Fest is back at On Tap with an afternoon of live music, awesome raffle prizes, adoptable dogs from Street Dog Hero, and plenty of chances for your pup to sniff, socialize, and soak up the fun. 1 - 5 PM On Tap

💡 Neon Glow Party: It must be a throwback Saturday in Bend as McMenamins is hosting The Dad Bods for an 80s-themed neon party. Wear your best 80s and blacklight-friendly clothing and prepare to dance the night away. 7 PM McMenamins

🍺 Boneyard Garage Sale: Boneyard Beer opens up for a garage sale, and we're betting there are some serious finds in there. Show up early, browse the goods, grab a beer. 12 PM Boneyard Brewery (Lakeplace)

✨ Enchanted 2: 'Awaken' Spring Fashion Soiree: A spring fashion event at UPP Liquids that's giving full enchanted energy. Dress up, show up, and step into the season in style. 7 PM UPP Liquids

😂 Just Roll with It Comedy: A 4/20 comedy event at The Capitol that's exactly as fun as it sounds. Just roll with it. 7 PM The Capitol

👗 The Great Promsby: Dress in your finest 20s (1920’s, that is) prom attire and support the Boys and Girls Club of Bend. 7:30 PM Boys & Girls Club of Bend

🩰 Giselle: One of the greatest ballets ever created comes to Bend with two days of performances. Enjoy a show this evening or head to the matinee tomorrow (or maybe even hit up both!). 6 PM & 2 PM on Sunday at Mountain View High School

Sunday 4.19

🎨 A Glimpse of Bengal: Henna, Face Painting & More: A beautiful cultural celebration at The Open Arts Center with henna, face painting, and a window into Bengali art and tradition. 1 PM The Open Arts Center

♻️ Resellers Row: The Sunday vintage and secondhand pop-up is back at Dogwood at the Pine Shed. Your next treasure is waiting. 11 AM Dogwood at the Pine Shed

🇺🇦 Circle of Voices: A Ukrainian women's folklore trio brings a cappella songs, stories, and cultural memory to Hanai in a heartfelt gathering marking the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster. 3:30 PM Hanai

🪩 Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo: Cap off the weekend with the ever entertaining Not’Cho Grandma’s bingo. 9:30 AM Silver Moon

🍆 Naughty Cups Workshop: Get your hands dirty (with clay…get your mind out of the gutter) at Camp Clay’s naughty cups workshop. 2 PM Camp Clay

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 4.17

Saturday 4.18

Sunday 4.19

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

⛔️ China Hat closure extended

Derek Carlson — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Here’s hoping this newsletter is a bit more fun than making a last-minute tax filing.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

⛔️ China Hat closure to last another year (at least)
🏃 No skiing at the Pole Pedal Paddle
🚌 RendezVan kicks off at Bachelor

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

🚐 RendezVan Kicks Off

Bachelor will be finishing up the winter season in style as the RendezVan party kicks off on Thursday. This four-day event will include a weekend of music, activities, skiing (of course), and camping (if you managed to grab a spot!). This weekend is also the last hurrah for winter activities, as the mountain will be shutting down and beginning the transition to summer operations after the last laps on Sunday.

🏃‍♂️ No Skiing at This Year’s Pole Pedal Paddle

While we’re on the topic of Bachelor closing for the season, Bend’s favorite race, the Pole Pedal Paddle, has announced that there will be no ski legs this year. Instead, they’ll be incorporating two new run legs (so there will be three in total). Here are the details straight from the source - One leg will be a “Mountain Run”, featuring notable elevation gain and loss over 2.5 -3 miles. The other run leg at Mt. Bachelor will be a “Fun Run” – short, relatively flat, and hopefully including some fun surprises. Sorry to all the folks who signed up for the downhill ski leg and now have to tackle the mountain run portion 😬

⛔️ Cabin Butte Closure Extended Another Year

Well, it looks like it’ll be another year before recreation areas on the south end of town will be reopening, as the Forest Service announced that the Cabin Butte closure (this is the one around the China Hat area) will stay in place through at least April 30, 2027. The closures were originally scheduled to end on May 1st of this year, but now it’ll be another winter before popular recreation areas like Bessie Butte, Horse Butte, and Boyd Cave are open again to the public.

💕 Bend Meet Market

Looking to meet that special someone and are tired of endlessly scrolling the apps? Join us at our FIRST dating event, The Meet Market, at Ballers & Brews. We’re cohosting the event with Cricket from Cricket Fixes (she’ll be the MC for the event) and it will include an evening of mingling, connection pods, and, of course, pickleball (the pickleball portion is totally optional, though!). Full details below 👇️

The Details

📍 Ballers and Brews | Rooftop Deck + Pickleball Courts
📅 Thursday, May 7
🕕 6:00 to 9:00 PM
🎟 $40 per ticket | Includes two drink tickets, court access, and the full curated experience.
👥 50 tickets total | We’re aiming for a thoughtful balance of attendees, so tickets are released by gender category. Grab yours before that category sells out.
💌 Match system included | Submit your picks at 8:30, and we'll send your mutual matches the following day.

Grab your ticket

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🌮 Hablo Tacos opening a second location at The Grove: Well, my guess was wrong about who would be taking over the Good Egg spot at The Grove, as Hablo Tacos announced they will be moving into the space later this spring. I’m a sucker for their al pastor tacos, so I’m hoping they install a vertical shawarma grill like they have at their east side location.

🍽️ Drake closes for a makeover and a rebrand: Another downtown restaurant is getting a refresh as Drake has closed (their last day of service was Sunday). The space will get a refresh and will reopen under the name Olive & May on Memorial Day weekend. Expect a refreshed menu with a continued emphasis on fresh, local flavors.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @maisonkokorobend | 📍Coming soon…
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH BEND BUZZ EVENTS

We’re giving ourselves a little bit of a plug in this space today with some reminders on upcoming events.

First up is our next free pickleball meetup at Ballers and Brews. This is a low-key affair where we can chat around the firepit, enjoy a frosty beverage, and play some friendly games of pickleball. We’ll be there from 5 - 7 PM on Thursday, April 23rd. RSVP here →

The following week, we’re hosting dinner club #5. These dinners are a chance to get together at tables of six and meet some new friends. After dinner, we all meet up at a local watering hole for some drinks around the fire. Want in? Fill out the quick survey, pay the matching fee, and we’ll see you on April 30th at 6 PM. Sign up here →

Last but not least is The Meet Market happening on May 7th. We already covered that above, but if you need another reminder to sign up, here it is. Grab your spot here →

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 4.15

📖 Toddler Story Time: The libraries may be closed for the next month, but they still have plenty of fun events on the calendar. Bring the littles by the Deschutes Children’s Foundation for a morning of storytime fun. 10:30 AM Deschutes Children’s Foundation - East Bend Campus

💃 Tropical Latin Dance Party: Mid-week blues got you down? That’s nothing an evening of dancing can’t fix. DJ SOLO will be bringing the beats to keep you moving and grooving. 7 PM Dogwood at the Pineshed

🎗️ The Life We Have: Join Greg Balkin at Embark for a screening of The Life We Have, followed by a run and raffle. There are some amazing raffle prizes, and all proceeds go towards supporting a great cause for The American Cancer Society and Berlin marathon fundraiser! 6 PM Embark

🤣 Derek Sheen: Who doesn’t need some midweek laughs? Derek (excellent name) Sheen is headlining the show, which will be part a cuddly mess of insecurities, part human hug, and all one-of-a-kind storytelling. 7:30 PM Silver Moon

🧠 WTF Wednesday Trivia: Put your trivia skills to the test and enjoy a boot of beer (is that still a thing?) at Prost’s WTF Wednesday trivia. 7 PM Prost

🧵 Kids Studio: Hand Sewing: Just because it’s an early out Wednesday doesn’t mean the learning has to end. Let your little ones unleash their inner creativity at a hand sewing class where they’ll learn to make their own mini stuffy. 1:30 PM Freak’n Art

🌵 250 in the West: Join historian, author, and associate professor at Colorado State University, Leisl Carr Childers, as she discusses the history of public lands from the American Revolution to today. 6 PM High Desert Museum

❓️ Mystery Book Club: Discuss the latest who-dun-it with a fun group of fellow mystery book lovers. 6 PM Roundabout Books

🚵‍♀️ New Friend Mountain Bike Ride: Want to make some new friends and sweat a little along the way? Bring your mountain bike and join this beginner-friendly ride. Don’t forget to pack a chair for some parking lot hangs afterwards. 5:30 PM Cascade Lakes Welcome Center

🖼️ Art and Poetry at the Peterson Gallery: Need a little inspiration for your next piece of poetry? Join the Deschutes Library for a poetry and art event at the Peterson Art Gallery. Writing supplies will be provided and registration is required. 5:30 PM Peterson Contemporary Art Gallery

Thursday 4.16

🥊 Self Defense Class: Learn the basics of krav maga self defense with a free intro class at Tula. 7:30 PM Tula

🖋️ Ink & Insights: Head to Roundabout Books for a night of conversation with the people helping preserve Central Oregon’s Environmental Landscape. 6:30 PM Roundabout Books

🧘 Guided Breathwork: Enjoy an evening contrast therapy with Flux’s hot and cold plunge pools, along with a guided breathwork session with Chris from Confluence Breathwork. 5 PM Flux Thermal Lounge

👩‍🍳 Family Fun in the Kitchen: Mac and cheese is out, and dishes using fresh, local ingredients are in. This kid-friendly class (ages 8 - 12) will walk them through how this week’s ingredient is grown, creative ways to cook with it, and make a recipe that celebrates its flavor. 4 PM Hanai

🪡 Intro to Quilting: Get started with your quilting journey with this class that will take you through quilting basics and how to ensure accurate fabric cuts, construction of a Sawtooth quilt block, and how to finish with basting, quilting, and binding the block. 5:30 PM Two Suns Art Studio

🎨 Art Supply Swap: Hit the road and make your way out to Pine Meadow Ranch (it’s out by Sisters) for an art supply swap, followed by some crafting time where you can use your newly acquired supplies. 2 PM Pine Meadow Ranch

🎲 Bunco Night: New Friends Bend is back with another event for, well, making new friends. This event’s fun is bunco, which, according to Google, is a dice game that people seem to enjoy (I’ll have to try it one of these days). 6 PM Works Real Estate

🥾 Larkspur Trail Walk: Enjoy a brisk 4.5-mile walk along the Larkspur Trail with the Bendites meetup group (keep an eye out for the plants in pants…you’ll know it when you see it). 10 AM Larkspur Park

📜 Found Poetry: Learn the art of generative techniques that will help free the mind and invigorate creativity while putting the pen to paper. No previous poetry or writing experience required. 6 PM Open Arts Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

🎶 Circle of Voices: Ukrainian Women’s Folklore Trio: Join Kolovita for an afternoon of song and storytelling on the 40th anniversary of Chornobyl. Artists Inna Kovtun, Nadia Tarnawsky, and Hanna Tishchenko will guide you through the cultural life of Polissya, shaped by 40 years of displacement, and carried forward through its villages, voices, and traditions. There will also be a pre-program reception featuring a curated selection of food and beverages inspired by the traditions of the Polissya region. This is an intimate gathering with limited seating, 3:30 PM this Sunday, April 19th at Hanai.

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 4.15

Thursday 4.16

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

Community Associate at Work Collective
RV Sales Associate at Blue Compass RV
Staff Accountant at Hayden Homes
Regulatory & Compliance Analyst at Suterra
Bike Builder / Technician at Pine Mountain Sports

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🥕 Another new farmers market?

Derek Carlson — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I know I pulled a fast one on April 1st with my outdoor guide, but here’s a little bit of (for real this time) outdoors inside info. We headed out on our first foraging trip of the year over the weekend and found some morel mushrooms popping up way earlier than normal.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🥕 Another new farmers market?
🔥 Fire season reminders
🚲️ Register for the bike fest

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🚲️ The Bend Bike Fest is Coming Up

Just like the ski swap serves as our annual reminder that winter is almost here, the Bend Bike Fest does the same for summer adventures on two wheels. This year, the fest will be taking place on April 24 - 26. But why are we telling you this so early if it isn’t happening for two more weeks??? Because registration for the bike swap is open now. If you want to sell that old beach cruiser, full suspension ripper, or any bike in between, online item registration closes on April 21st. You can check out the full details here.

📚️ Downtown Library Closes for Renovations

The library shared a bit of info above about the upcoming opening of the new central library, but we figured we should also give you a quick reminder that the downtown library is now fully closed for renovations. The closure will last approximately one year, and all pickups and drop-offs can now be done at the new central library location.

🥕 Another Farmers Market Popping Up This Summer?

Bend will have no shortage of farmers markets to choose from this year (we’ll have the downtown market on Wednesdays, the Elevation Market on Fridays, the NWX market on Saturdays, and the Worthy Brewing market on Sundays…not to mention other markets in Sunriver, Redmond, and Sisters). And now it’s looking like we might be adding one more to the list. Granted, this just popped up in a local Facebook group, so I don’t have a ton of details, but it looks like there will be a new weekly Tuesday market happening by the Old Mill from mid June to mid July. More details on the market here (this was from a group post on Facebook, so sorry if the link doesn’t work for some folks).

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🍷 Flights Wine Bar has a new name: Bistro Colette: I’ve been a little slow with sending out this update (it’s been a busy past week in the Bend business world), so bear with me. A few months back, we shared that Flights Wine Bar had changed hands, and now it has changed names as well. The west side space is now known as Bistro Colette and will begin focusing more on French food and wines.

🍽️ Help get your nutrition dialed: There’s a new way to build a better connection with the food you eat, as Bend local Leslie Schmille has launched a nutrition coaching company. Nutrition by Leslie is aimed at helping local moms break free from food guilt, overeating, and the dieting cycle. You can learn more on her website or IG account.

🥪 Schlotzky’s & Cinnabon close for good: East side combo restaurant Schlotzky’s & Cinnabon closed its doors for good late last week, with a note posted on the door thanking Bend for 30 years of support.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

Join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bend for their 4^th annual Throwback Prom! This year, they’re taking it back to the roaring 20s with the Great Promsby. Enjoy incredible food from their catering sponsor, Stacks, signature cocktails, dancing, music, and more!

Be sure to grab a ticket to the speakeasy to try your hand at blackjack or craps and an exclusive drink! Proceeds from the Great Promsby go directly to supporting BGCB’s programming and the youth they serve each year! See you there, it’ll be the cat’s meow. Saturday, April 18th, 7 - 10 PM at BGCB’s historic gym at 500 NW Wall Street

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @envirocenterbend |📍Alpenglow Park
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH FALLING LEAF TREE CARE

Hey folks, if you need tree work around Bend, Scott’s been a licensed arborist here for over 10 years.

If he looks familiar, you might’ve seen him teaching up at Bachelor—he’s been a ski instructor there for years, too.

He runs Falling Leaf Tree Care, a small family business, and he’s easy to work with, keeps things straightforward, and actually takes the time to figure out what you want. Whether it’s cleaning up a backyard, tackling overgrown trees back under control, or just making your yard easier to manage year-round.

He’s got some openings this month and next, and if you’ve been meaning to get something on the calendar, give him a call for a free estimate.

📞 (541) 241-6239
📧 fallingleafservices@gmail.com
Falling Leaf Tree Care, LLC · CCB# 235548

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 4.13

🚦 Automated Traffic Enforcement Info Session: Bend's new automated traffic enforcement is coming, and this is your chance to ask the questions you've been muttering at your dashboard. 5:30 PM Bend Municipal Court

🌋 Natural History Pub: McMenamins gets geological for an evening all about the volcanoes sitting in our backyard. Grab a pint and learn why the ground beneath Central Oregon is a lot more interesting and active than it looks. 7 PM McMenamins Old St. Francis School

🤣 Beertown Comedy Open Mic: Test out your new bit in front of Bend’s friendliest crowd (this statement has not been independently verified, so your results may vary). 6:30 PM Silver Moon

🍺 Pints with Profs: Learn about the psychology of change and how 1% improvements can add up over time. 6 PM Bridge 99 Brewing

🧘 EcoNidra: Head over to Hanai for an evening of EcoNidra, which is a gentle and restorative meditation-like practice that guides us back into connection with ourselves and the earth. 6:30 PM Hanai

🎱Bingo with Bren: Bingo night, but make it fun and philanthropic. Join the games, win prizes, and support Family Kitchen while you’re at it. 6 PM Bevel Craft Brewing

Tuesday 4.14

🔈️ Badass Sound Bath: Step into an empowering experience that blends juicy beats, bold mantras, and a deeply restorative live sound bath. 6:30 PM Continuum Yoga Studio

📚 Library @ Ponderosa Park: The Deschutes Public Library takes it outside for a pop-up at Ponderosa Park. Books, fresh air, and a real taste of spring. 12 PM Ponderosa Park

🎨 Teen Open Art Hours: A free, open creative space for teens at The Open Arts Center. No agenda, no pressure, just art supplies and time to make something. 3 PM The Open Arts Center

👩‍🏫 Central Oregon Educator Job Fair: Schools across Central Oregon gather at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center to meet their next great teachers. Know someone who belongs in a classroom? Send them this way. 2 PM Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

🧑‍🍳 Kitchen Takeover: This week’s kitchen takeover event at Bleu Bite Catering will be led by the head chef of Yoli, Joe Kim. This hands-on class will focus on two of Korea’s most iconic dishes, kimchi and bulgogi. 5:30 PM Bleu Bite Catering

🐿️ Wildlife Trivia: Put your Central Oregon wildlife knowledge to the test at Think Wild’s monthly wildlife trivia night. 6 PM The Lot

🧪 Super Science Trivia: Wildlife trivia not your thing? How about science? Here you can test your knowledge of everything quarks, DNA, and the airspeed velocity of an unladen European swallow. 7 PM Worthy Brewing

🧵 Sassy Stitches: Channel your rage with some beauty and sass! In this class, you will learn 5 embroidery stitches (straight, stem, wagon wheel rose, French knot, and leaf) to create a sweet floral border around a saucy saying of your choice! 5:30 PM Freak’n Art

🤝 The Science of Connecting in a Lonely World: A timely and deeply needed talk at COCC on the science behind human connection, loneliness, and how we build communities that actually hold people. 6 PM Willie Hall COCC

✍️ Author Event: Leah Altman & Pam Houston: Two incredible writers in one room at Roundabout Books. An evening of storytelling, conversation, and the kind of literary energy that makes you want to go home and read all night. 6:30 PM Roundabout Books & Cafe

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 4.13

Tuesday 4.14

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday:

🌱 Spring Social at Wintercreek Nursery
⛷️ RendezVan at Mt. Bachelor
🥾 Steelhead Walk at Camp Polk Meadow Preserve
👗 Vintage Rendezvous Clothing Popup at Crux
🌍️ Earth Day Fashion Show at COCC
🧘 Breathwork, Yoga, & Silent Disco at Tumalo State Park
🏔️ Banff Mountain Film Festival at Tower Theatre

Saturday:

⚡️ Let’s Glow Crazy Party at Old St. Francis
🧀 The Art of Cheese at Freak’n Art
🔧 Kids’ Entrepreneur Market at Bend Elks Lodge
🏃‍♂️ Salmon Run at Riverbend Park
🛶 Fishing Paddle Craft Showcase at Tumalo Creek Kayak
👗 The Great Promsby at Boys & Girls Club of Bend

Sunday:

🪕 Ukrainian Women’s Folk Trio at Hanai
🩰 Giselle Ballet at MVHS Auditorium
🪩 Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo at Silver Moon

Live Music:

🎸 Curtis Salgado at The Domino Room
🎵 Forty Feet Tall at Silver Moon
🎵 Major Dudes! at Tower Theatre
🎤 Curtis Salgado at The Domino Room

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

⛷️ Bachelor closing in 9 days

Derek Carlson — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I saw a lot of you all buying some pretty hefty tomato plants at Costco the past few days…just a reminder that, despite our recent warm weather, we still live in Central Oregon, and I’d be willing to put down a few bucks that we wake up to a hard frost or snow at least one more time this spring.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🎒 Portland Gear opening at the Old Mill
⛷️ Bachelor closing in 9 days
🏂️ Snowboarding comp at VTP

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

⛷️ Ski Season is Coming to an End Next Week

Mt. Bachelor has announced the last day of winter activities on the mountain, and it’s soon! Next weekend, the mountain will be hosting the RendezVan party, and the last day for lift-served access will be Sunday, April 19th. After that, they’ll begin the process of transitioning over to biking, ziplining, and all the other summer fun that the mountain offers.

Also, I hope the folks who signed up for the downhill or xc ski legs of Pole Pedal Paddle are excited about doing some running…

🍺 Crux Releases A Preview of their Lawn Renovation

A few weeks back, we shared that Crux would be shutting down its lawn space for a bit as it goes under the knife for renovations. I made a joke about them installing a playground aaaaaaand maybe they took that joke a little too seriously because the latest update includes a note about a dedicated kids’ play area. You can see more about the updates here.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

Lotta business updates to roll through today, so I’ll try to keep them concise!

🎮 Arcade grand opening at The Capitol: Bend just got a little more fun as The Capitol opens its brand new arcade! Doors open at 3 PM on Saturday, and it will be family-friendly until 8 PM. After that, you can enjoy some adult-only gaming fun. 3 PM The Capitol

🎒 Portland Gear to open at the Old Mill: An iconic Oregon brand is expanding outside of Portland, as Portland Gear will be opening a shop in the Old Mill later this spring. They’ll be bringing their lineup of clothing and travel gear to the space previously occupied by Wild Child and hope to open by Memorial Day.

🌮 The Cantina at Wandering Ranchero opens: One of Bend’s hottest taco spots, Wandering Ranchero (their breakfast tacos are seriously addictive), is growing…kinda. Starting this weekend, they’ll be transforming the Palate Coffee space into an evening cantina. Here you can enjoy their evening taco menu, cold beer, and rotating dessert specials. Swing by Thursday - Saturdays from 5 - 10 PM.

🍻 On Tap 8th anniversary celebration: And now a few celebration events for businesses that have been around the sun a few times. On Tap is celebrating their 8th anniversary with a weekend full of fun. There will be live music, donut popups (Oh My Goodness donuts will be there…IYKYK), Brim Bar popup, special beer collabs, and more! Swing by, say congrats, and enjoy the fun.

🎉 Barre3 16th anniversary party: Think 8 years is a long time in business? Fitness spot Barre3 is celebrating their 16th(!!!) anniversary with a party on Friday evening. From 6-8 PM at UPP Liquids’ Barrel Room, they’ll have hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and drinks.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @alexsreininger |📍Mt. Bachelor
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH GWEN SHOEMAKER PHOTOGRAPHY

Howdy, I'm Gwen. Lifestyle photographer for families and brands.

The best photos happen when you feel confident, relaxed, and fully present. With over 16 years behind the camera, I bring a sense of calm and an eye for detail to every session. Whether it’s a family milestone, a senior portrait, or a personal branding session for your small business, my goal is to capture the heart of who you are.

On Saturday, May 2, I'll be hosting Mother's Day Mini Sessions at Pine & Prism's downtown collective, featuring a dreamy, lush floral installation from Summer Robbins Flowers. The perfect gift for the mom who deserves more than a card.

Bookings are live → Mother's Day Mini Sessions

See my work → gwenshoemaker.com

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 4.10

🎭️ Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet: Miss the sold-out shows at the Greenhouse Cabaret last weekend? The show goes on with performances happening on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 7:30 PM Greenhouse Cabaret

📚 Nonfiction Book Club: Kick off your Friday morning with good reads and good conversation at Roundabout Books. 9 AM Roundabout Books

🎿 Quatro Snowboard & Ski Competition: A ski and snowboard competition outside Volcanic Theatre Pub, wait, what? The mountain may not have much snow, but there’ll be plenty on the step-down quarter pipe. 6 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub (Century Center)

😂 We're Not Worthy Comedy: Stand-up comedy at Worthy Brewing Eastside. A great Friday night combination of laughs and cold beer. 7 PM Worthy Brewing

💿 It's a 2000s Party: Low-rise jeans, flip phones, and absolute chaos at Midtown Ballroom. If you know all the words to Yeah! by Usher, this is your night. 9 PM Midtown Ballroom

🧠 Head Games Trivia: What’s better than a night of trivia questions while sipping some of the valley’s finest pinots? 6:30 PM Stoller Wine Bar

Saturday 4.11

🥏 Ultimate Frisbee: Think ultimate frisbee is only happening on college campuses between classes? Think again. Teams from across the PNW and from as far away as Alaska will be convening in Bend for the Gandyland Ultimate Frisbee tournament happening all weekend. Saturday & Sunday at Big Sky Park

🎣 Trout Bum Fly Swap: Fly fishers gather at Fly & Field Outfitters to swap flies, trade secrets, and talk fish on both Saturday and Sunday. A beautiful way to start the weekend and get excited for spring fishin’. 8 AM - 4 PM Fly & Field Outfitters

🎹 The Maestro at the Piano: The Sunriver Music Fest is kicking off their season with a performance by Maestro Brett Mitchell. 3 PM Sunriver Christian Fellowship

🐾 Hungry Hound's Second Saturday: Bring your dog, grab a pint, and hang out with a bunch of other people who also brought their dogs. Greg's Grill, good beer, good pups. 12 PM Greg's Grill

🍺 Bend Brewing Masters Party: The Masters is on, the beer is cold, and Bend Brewing is throwing a proper watch party. Golf, brews, and a Saturday afternoon well spent. 12 PM Bend Brewing

💃 Permission to Dance Prom: The second annual Permission to Dance Prom brings together individuals with special needs for a night of dancing, new friendships, and pure joy. Live DJ, dance floor, photo booth, appetizers and desserts—everything a perfect prom night deserves. One of those events that reminds you exactly what community is for. 5 PM The Riverhouse

🎵 Rocky Mountain High Experience: Take Me Home, Country Roads at the Tower Theatre with a full tribute to the legend himself. Bring tissues and your best sing-along voice. 3 PM Tower Theatre

😂 Comedy at Craft: Another Saturday night of stand-up at Craft Kitchen. Laughs, beer, repeat. 8 PM Craft Kitchen

🍽️ Eat Me: Got an appetite for the alluring? Bend Burlesque Company serves up a full course of food-themed burlesque with intimate indulgences, pole performances, delectable duets, and solo slays that'll leave you asking for seconds. 8 PM Silver Moon

🌙 Atrevete Noche Latina: A Latin night at Los Andes Sports Bar & Cafe — dancing, music, and serious energy to close out the weekend right. 9 PM Los Andes Sports Bar & Cafe

🌻 Botany Arts & Crafts: Join the High Desert chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon for a day of botany-inspired art. 1 PM Two Suns Art Studio

🗑️ Public Lands Stewards Cleanup: The China Hat area has been closed for the past year for fuels reduction and cleanup, but there is still work to be done. Pitch in to help make our wild lands a place that everyone can enjoy. 9 AM China Hat Rd

Sunday 4.12

🔧 Trailside Maintenance Clinic: Learn how to fix your bike on the trail so you're never stuck out there with a problem and no solution. Pine Mountain Sports delivers the skills, you bring the curiosity. 2 PM Pine Mountain Sports

🎶 BeLoud, BeLoved, BeLonging: Composer Andy Akiho and the acclaimed Imani Winds come to the Tower Theatre for an evening of contemporary classical music that's as emotionally powerful as the title suggests. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

⚽️ La Copa del High Desert: See which local college is the best (at soccer) as students from COCC and OSU-Cascades face off in a friendly competition on the pitch. 10:30 AM COCC-Mazama Field

🚲️ Bike for Stratton: Come celebrate the life of late local biker/snowboarder Stratton Matteson with a group bike ride and celebration. 5 PM Miller’s Landing Park

🏃 Bend Marathon: In really, really good shape and looking for an excuse to run 26 miles (aren’t we all??), then hop in and join the Bend Marathon as it makes its way through the city. Not in the race? Watch for runners as they cross streets around town. 7 AM Old Mill District

🏃 Peterson Ridge Rumble: Lace up those trail shoes and get ready to rumble in Sisters at this always-a-good-time trail race. You’ll have your pick of distances with a 40-miler, 20-miler, and marathon (they all sound painful!). 7 AM Sisters

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 4.10

Saturday 4.11

Sunday 4.12

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🚫 A pair of local eateries close

Derek Carlson — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Today’s the last day of burger week, so make it count! I just had my first offering of the event (the chili crisp burger at Blue Eyes), so I’ve got some catching up to do today.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🚧 Seasonal road openings
🎣 It’s fly fishing season
🚫A pair of local eateries close

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

🚧 Seasonal Road Openings

A couple road openings (and openings to come) to update you all on. First off, the road to Tumalo Falls is now open for the season. You can, of course, still park at Skyliner and walk to the falls, but if that doesn’t strike your fancy, you’ve now got options.

Second is the road up to the top of Pilot Butte. Due to a staffing issue (the security company that normally handles opening and closing the gate backed out of the contract), the gate won’t open until May 1st. So we’re hoofing it to the top for a few more weeks to get those sweet sunrise and sunset views.

📆 April Meetup Schedule

Get your calendars ready as we’re hosting two meetups this month. The first will be another free evening of pickleball at Ballers & Brews in NE Bend on Thursday, April 23rd, from 5 - 7 PM. Like the last ones, we’ll have both courts for two hours, so come play some pickleball, hang out by the fire pits, and enjoy a beverage or two.

Next up will be our next dinner club that will be taking place on April 30th at 6 PM. It’s been a lot of fun seeing friendships start to form between folks who have been to a few of these events so far (we even caught wind of a 30+ person WhatsApp group text that was born out of the dinners). Same details as before - go to this link, fill out a quick survey, pay the matching fee, and you’ll get paired up with 5 other Bendites for dinner. Afterwards, we’ll all meet up at a local watering hole.

We’ve also got a date set (it’ll be happening in early May) for our first dating event…more details to come on that one!

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🚫 A pair of local restaurants close: Bend saw two eateries close up shop over the last few days. Blacksteer Steakhouse on the north end of town announced they would not be renewing their lease and closed their doors effective April 4th. Across town, breakfast sandwich spot Good Egg (located in The Grove) shared on IG that they were closing, effective immediately. The folks behind Good Egg (they’re also the owners of Dear Mom Cafe) have been taking Bend by storm with their delicious brioche doughnuts, so we’ll see if they have anything in store for the space….

🍺 UPP Liquids wins big at the Oregon Beer Awards: UPP Liquids (formerly Immersion Brewing) won big at the Oregon Beer Awards over the weekend by taking home the gold for both New Brewery of the Year and Small Brewery of the Year. Along with the brewery-level awards, they also took home medals for five different brews. They weren’t the only Bend breweries represented as Sunriver Brewing, Bend Brewing Company, Van Henion, and Deschutes Brewery also came home with medals.

📚️ Want to buy a bookshop?: Who hasn’t dreamed of spending their days sitting behind the counter at a bookshop, reading your favorite novel while sipping a cup of coffee with the shop cat (it can only be named Poe) purring at your feet. Well, that dream can be a reality as the owner of downtown bookstore Underground Books is looking to pass the business on to new hands.

🪅 Goodwill Superstore grand opening: The brand new Goodwill Superstore on the north end of town will officially open its doors tomorrow morning (Thursday) with a grand opening at 8 AM. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, giveaways, and some other fun stuff happening.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 @north44farm | 📍North44 Farm
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH SALT AESTHETICS

Don’t take our word for it…

Hey friends, Suzanne and Shannon here.

What means the most to us is hearing how our patients feel when they leave. 238 five star reviews later, that’s still what drives everything we do.

If you’ve had Botox or filler before, or you’re just starting to think about it, we take a simple approach. Keep it natural. Keep it honest. Do only what makes sense for you.

If you’ve been curious, come in and talk with us. Consultations are always free. As a Bend Buzz welcome, first-time clients receive 10% off wrinkle relaxers (Botox, Xeomin, Dysport).

We’d love to meet you!

Meet the Sisters & Get 10% OFF

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Wednesday 4.8

🧶 Knit Night: Join Katie from Wool Town for a relaxing evening of knitting and tea at the new Bend Tea + Art Lounge. 6 PM Bend Tea + Art Lounge

🌵 Elsewhere: Join Elsewhere, Bend’s nomadic tea temple, at Desert Rose Cactus Lounge for an evening anchored in community-centered creative expansion through art, live music, and generative conversation. 6 PM Desert Rose Cactus Lounge

🍄 Mushroom Suncatcher Class: Stained glass monstera suncatchers are out, and mushroom suncatchers are in. Learn the basics of making your own stained glass at this beginner-friendly class. 6 PM DIYCave

😆 Open Mic Comedy: Craft Kitchen is supplying the mic, which means you need to bring the jokes for their open mic comedy night. Got stage fright? You can just sit back and enjoy the show. 7:30 PM Craft Kitchen

🪶 Indigenous Speaker Series: Founder and CEO of Indigikitchen, Mariah Gladstone (Blackfeet/ Cherokee) will be discussing the history of Indigenous food systems, as well as the relationship between cultural identity, health, and native plants and animals at this week’s Indigenous Speaker Series talk. 6 PM High Desert Museum

🧵 Kids Studio! Hand Sewing: Let your kids explore their creative side with some fabric and thread as they create their own adorable plushies in this early out Wednesday class. 1:30 PM Freak’n Art

🔖 Connection through Creativity: Also at Freak’n Art today, an art workshop for kiddos ages 8 - 12 where they can create a piece honoring someone or something important to you—a family member, pet, friend, et cetera. This program is through the Deschutes Library’s A Novel Idea program (which means it’s free!). 2:30 PM Freak’N Art

🦉 Nature Kids: Spring is back, and so is Nature Kids. Let your little ones get out and explore the world around them at this weekly (and free) 90-minute outdoor exploration program. 2:30 PM Location TBA

Thursday 4.9

🎣 Fly Fishing Social: Head over to Hawkeye & Huckleberry to get the fly fishing season started off right. Tickets get you cold brews of UPP Liquids, sliders from Hawk & Huck, entry into the raffle, and, of course, the chance to talk all things fishing. 5:30 PM Hawkeye & Huckleberry

🏃 Kook Classic Track Meet: Slow runner? Fast runner? Somewhere in between? Everyone is welcome at this unsanctioned, just-for-fun track meet hosted by Bend’s track and trail running crew, the Bend Kooks. 5:30 PM COCC Track

🐦️ The Bird/Caterpillar Connection: Did you know that hungry, hungry caterpillars are the most important food source for terrestrial birds? Well, you do now! Learn more about this fun relationship (fun for the birds, at least) with the crew from the East Cascades Bird Alliance at Worthy Brewing. 6 PM Worthy Brewing

🐺 Folktales: Exhausted by loneliness, social anxiety, and all the crushing barrage of pressures felt by their generation, FOLKTALES tells the timely and emotional story of three teenagers who leave the comforts of home to enroll in a traditional “folk high school” in the wilds of northernmost Norway. 6 PM Cascades Academy

🌲 Pine Needle Weaving: Turn all those pine needles in your backyard into something useful with this hands-on class, where you’ll learn to turn them into either a piece of wall art or a basket. 5:15 PM Freak’n Art

🍽️ Family Fun in the Kitchen: Want your little ones to be able to cook more than a cup’o’noodles? This class at Hanai will introduce them to seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and teach them how to turn them into tasty meals. 4 PM Hanai

📖 Toddler Story Time: Bring the littles by Mountain Air for a morning of bouncing and stories. 10:30 AM Mountain Air

🧠 Trivia Night: Maybe that caterpillar fact I shared earlier will be useful here! Quizhead Games will be on the mic and supplying the questions for this midweek round of trivia. 6 PM Ponch’s Place

🚐 Homesick Nomad: Hear from NYT best-selling author Brianna Madia as she talks about her book Homesick Nomad. 6:30 PM Unitarian Universalist

✍️ Publishing Poems: It’s poetry month, and COCC is hosting a whole bunch of events to help you become a better writer, reader, and storyteller. Today’s workshop is all about how to start publishing your poems. 11:30 AM COCC - Barber Library

🥾 Outdoor Industry Networking: Work in the outdoors industry (or want to work in the outdoor industry?) and are looking to expand your network? Join the Oregon Outdoor Alliance for a low-key evening of beverages and handshakes at Embark. 5:30 PM Embark Cowering

UPCOMING EVENTS

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday 4.8

Thursday 4.9

WHO’S HIRING IN BEND

Looking for your next job? Here are some local listings that have popped up over the last week.

Medical Assistant Trainee – Accelerated 6-Month Program | Tuition Paid at Mosaic Community Health
Medical Assistant (pediatrics) at Mosaic Community Health
Medical Assistant (Mobile/Street Medicine Program) at Mosaic Community Health
Pharmacy Technician at Mosaic Community Health
HR Coordinator at Effectual Inc
Quality Engineer II at BASX

Searching for a new job? Browse the full job board

Looking for local candidates for your open position? Post your job

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

🥾 Grab your wilderness passes

Derek Carlson — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! That was a very lovely weekend. It feels like all of Bend was out and about soaking up the sun!

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🥾 Overnight wilderness passes
⛸️ Goodbye, ice season
🥕 New farmers market opens May 1st

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

SNAPSHOTS

🏗️ 6-Story Apartment Complex Coming to the West Side

Forgive me if you’ve heard this story before but you’re likely about to see another large apartment complex rising up on the west side of town. It appears as if developers are moving forward on a new 6-story development that will be located near the roundabout at Century and Reed Market. The complex would feature 297 units, over 300 parking spaces, and some other fancy amenities like a sauna.

🧊 Ice Season is Over at the Pavilion

If you were hoping to get in one last ice skate session at The Pavilion…I’ve got some bad news for you. The ice is now a puddle and BPRD is in the process of changing the space over to its warm weather state. Soon enough we’ll all be doing laps on roller skates (starting April 17th) and dreaming about the next winter to come.

🥾 Signups for Overnight Central Cascade Permits Open

Want to head out into the Central Cascades wilderness for some overnight trips this summer? Well, you’ll need a permit for that. And your first chance to grab one will be tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7 AM. The USFS will be releasing ~40% of the year’s overnight permits so starting figuring out your summer schedule now and be ready to grab one of these elusive passes. Just a reminder that this release is for overnight permits only. Day permits (the kind you’ll need if you want to drive up at 4 AM, summit South Sister, and spend the afternoon enjoying a burger and a cold beverage and not eating a rehydrated meal out of a bag), will be available starting in early June.

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🥕 Elevation Farmers Market starts May 1: Bend’s newest farmers market at the Bend Factory Stores has an official start date. They will be open for business every Friday from 3 - 7 PM (hooray for after-work shopping!) starting on May 1st. They’ve also been teasing their vendor lineup over on their IG page, so you can get an idea of what to expect.

🎨 Open Arts Center reopens: After running into some permitting issues that took a touch longer than expected, the Open Arts Center is now officially open for business. This new spot off of NE 2nd & Greenwood offers a creative “third space” for teens and adults. They’ll be offering a bunch of classes, get-togethers, and a rentable studio space.

🐶 New mobile veterinary care service launches: Homestead Veterinary Service has opened up and is now serving the Central Oregon region. They offer a range of services and come directly to your home, ranch, or hobby farm, ensuring your pets and livestock receive the best treatment without the stress of travel.

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

🏡 Cascade Youth Host Homes: Cascade Youth & Family Center, a part of J Bar J, is looking for local families to open their homes to kids ages 11–17 who just need a safe place to land during a tough moment. The Host Home program offers short-term stays (1–21 days) while kids work with case managers and their families to reset, reconnect, and get the support they need. Hosts are fully trained, supported 24/7, and play a meaningful role in helping a young person get back on track. If this sounds like something you’d want to be part of, then learn more at their website or reach out to Audrey Scott at (541) 408-7293 or Awellfordscott@jbarj.org.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 Parke C. |📍Rainbow over Bend
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH ACTIVE BODYWORK

Feel Better. Move Better. Get Back to What You Love.

Whether it’s tight shoulders from long workdays or legs that are still feeling last weekend’s adventure, your body has a way of letting you know when it needs attention.

At Active Bodywork, Monica and her team focus on deep, targeted work that helps relieve tension, improve mobility, and support recovery. This isn’t a quick, relaxing massage. It’s personalized bodywork designed to actually make a difference.

If you’ve been thinking about booking, there are appointments available this week.

Stay active, recover faster, and feel better day-to-day.

Book your session at abwbend.com.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 4.6

✂️ Collage Poetry: Cut, arrange, and let the words find you. A creative afternoon at The Open Arts Center where poetry meets scissors and glue in the best possible way. 4 PM The Open Arts Center

🌲 Public Lands, Public Voices: A timely and important conversation about roadless forests, public lands, and who gets a say in their future. If you care about the wild places around us—and you should—this one's worth showing up for. 5:30 PM OSU Cascades

💫 Muse Talks x The Beauty Project — Rising: A TED Talk-style evening at the Tower Theatre built around powerful stories of growth, resilience, and the spaces where people truly connect. An incredible lineup of local voices sharing experiences and ideas that stick with you long after the lights come up. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

🌈 Queer Folk Night: Acoustic, intimate, and wonderfully queer — a folk music gathering at Almadorada that feels like exactly the kind of community night Bend does best. 7 PM Almadorada

✍️ Word-for-Word Writing Workshop: Word-for-Word is a recurring, monthly writing workshop where you can do some writing exercises, then split up into pairs or small groups to give critiques on each others' writing. 6 PM Cafe des Chutes

🧑‍🎤 Sing Your Face Off: Are you an amazing singer or do your tunes make your kids run to their bedrooms crying? (I’m more of the latter.) It doesn’t matter at this public rock choir because the goal is just to sing for the fun of it. 6 PM UPP Liquids

🇪🇸 Multilingual Monday: Come practice your Spanish, Japanese, or any other language you’ve been trying to master at this free meetup. 5:30 PM Broken Top Bottle Shop

Tuesday 4.7

🦫 International Beaver Day Movie & Celebration: Yes, International Beaver Day is a real thing, and Bend is absolutely the right place to celebrate it properly. A film screening and celebration of everyone's favorite dam builder at Deschutes. 5:30 PM Deschutes Public House

🍺 Worthy Boots & Brews: Pull on your boots and head to Worthy for an evening that pairs cold beer with dancin’ shoes. A classic Bend Tuesday night. 6:30 PM Worthy Brewing

🍹 "Rethink Your Drink" — A Sober-Curious Workshop: A gentle, judgment-free space to explore your relationship with alcohol at Hanai. Whether you're sober, sober-curious, or just taking a closer look, this one's worth your Tuesday evening. 6 PM Hanai

📚 Mental Asylums in Fiction — Sanity, Conformity, and Control: A Roundabout Books discussion that digs into how fiction has used mental institutions to explore power, identity, and what society calls "normal." Unsettling, fascinating, and a great book club conversation. 6:30 PM Roundabout Books & Cafe

🔪 Psychology of a Serial Killer: A touring masterclass that dives deep into one of humanity's darkest fascinations. Who are these people? How does an ordinary neighbor become a mass murderer? Why are we so obsessed with them? Serious, intense, and genuinely gripping. Sleep with the lights on. 7:30 PM Tower Theatre

☕️ Coffee & Clarity: Get your week started right with a casual ladies meetup over a cup of coffee or tea. 8:30 AM Thump at The Grove

✍️ Songwriting Poetry Workshop: Join award-winning singer, songwriter, and poet, Beth Wood, for an interactive workshop exploring the intersection of songwriting and poetry. 4 PM COCC - Barber Library

🥒 Beyond the Dill: I know. I know. This one’s up the road in Redmond. But with gardening season just around the corner, it’s never too early to start learning how to store your bumper crop of cucumbers (or other pickle-able veggies).5:30 PM American Legion Redmond

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 4.6

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM

Tuesday 4.7

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Friday:

😂We’re Not Worthy Comedy at Worthy Brewing
🪩It’s a 2000s Party at Midtown Ballroom
🏂Quatro at Volcanic Theatre Pub
🎭️ Into the Breeches! at Open Space Event Studios

Saturday:

🎙️Comedy at Craft Kitchen
💋Eat Me at Silver Moon
🎮Arcade Grand Opening at The Capitol
🐶 Second Saturday Pints & Paws at Greg’s Grill
🍅 All Things Seeds and Growing Veggies in Central Oregon with OSU Master Gardeners
🎣 Trout Bum Fly Swap at Fly & Field Outfitters

Sunday:

🚵‍♀️Trailside Maintenance Clinic at Pine Mountain Sports
🏃 Peterson Ridge Rumble in Sisters
🎨 Botanical Watercolor Class at Moonfire & Sun Nursery

Live Music:

🎶 That 90s Band at Old St Francis
🍾 Champagne Drip at Volcanic Theatre Pub
🎵 Critical Blues Band at Silver Moon
🎹 The Maestro at the Piano in Sunriver
🏔️ Rocky Mountain High Experience at Tower Theatre
🎸 Nat Lefkoff & Robot Mushroom at Silver Moon
🎤 Satsang at Volcanic Theatre Pub

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → hello@BendBuzz.com

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