Events & What’s Happening
Iconic multi-sport relay race combining alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, cycling, running, and kayaking or canoeing through the Bend area.
💡Sign up as a family relay team so each member can participate in just one leg — great for kids who bike or run.
One of Central Oregon's largest outdoor festivals featuring arts, crafts, live music, and food vendors along the Old Mill District riverfront.
💡Arrive early to snag shaded spots near the river and let kids explore the vendor booths before crowds build mid-afternoon.
One of North America's longest-running stage races with multiple road and criterium stages held in and around Bend, offering free spectating opportunities.
💡Watch the downtown criterium stage for fast-paced action within a short walking loop — kids love the speed and can see riders multiple times.
Annual airshow at Bend Municipal Airport featuring aerobatic performances, vintage and military aircraft displays, and ground exhibits for all ages.
💡Bring ear protection for young children — the jet performances are thrillingly loud; arrive when gates open to explore the static aircraft displays.
Central Oregon's largest Oktoberfest celebration featuring local craft beers, German food, live music, and a family-friendly atmosphere in the Old Mill District.
💡The festival has a dedicated family zone with kids' activities; visit during the early afternoon session for a mellower experience.
Four-day independent film festival screening documentaries, features, and shorts at indoor venues throughout Bend, with filmmaker Q&As and community events.
💡Check the schedule for family-appropriate documentary screenings — outdoor and adventure films are often a hit with older kids.
Annual holiday light celebration in the Old Mill District featuring dazzling light displays, a tree lighting ceremony, live entertainment, and visits with Santa.
💡The tree lighting on opening night draws a big crowd; bring hot cocoa and dress in layers as temperatures drop sharply after sunset.
Weekly interactive storytime at the Bend branch of Deschutes Public Library featuring picture books, songs, and simple crafts for children ages 2–6.
💡Arrive a few minutes early to find a good floor spot; the librarians are excellent and often theme sessions around seasons or upcoming holidays.
Vibrant weekly farmers market in the Old Mill District featuring local produce, artisan foods, crafts, and live music from Central Oregon vendors.
💡Wednesday mornings before 10am are least crowded; grab breakfast burritos from a food vendor and let kids pick out fresh fruit.
Weekly public viewing nights at the University of Oregon's Pine Mountain Observatory, about 26 miles east of Bend, featuring telescope access and astronomy talks under some of Oregon's darkest skies.
💡Kids are captivated by views of planets and star clusters through the large telescopes; bring layers as it gets cold at elevation even in summer.
Guided and self-guided family float trips on the scenic lower Deschutes River through Bend, a beloved summer tradition for locals and visitors alike.
💡The float from Seventh Street to Farewell Bend Park is mellow and ideal for families with kids ages 5 and up; bring sunscreen and water shoes.
Weekend group ski and snowboard lessons for children and beginners offered by the Mt. Bachelor Ski School, with age-specific programs starting at age 3.
💡Book lessons at least two weeks in advance during holiday weekends; the Bearcub Outpost area is dedicated to young learners and has its own gentle terrain.
Planning Your Visit
Neighborhoods & Areas
Local Tips for Families
- 💡The Deschutes River float from Riverbend Park to Drake Park is free if you bring your own tube — rent from Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe in the Old Mill for about $20/tube if you need gear. The float runs roughly 45 minutes and is calm enough for kids 5 and up. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning in July to avoid the wall-to-wall tube traffic that forms on summer weekends.
- 💡High Desert Museum on US-97 south of Bend offers free admission for kids under 5 and has an indoor otter habitat and live birds of prey demonstrations at scheduled times posted at the front desk — the 11am raptor program is the most popular so arrive 15 minutes early to get a seat in the outdoor amphitheater.
- 💡Mount Bachelor's Sunrise Lodge base area opens for scenic chairlift rides in summer (typically mid-July through Labor Day) and costs significantly less than a ski day — roughly $25 per person for adults, free for kids under 6. The summit views of the Three Sisters and Broken Top are the best accessible panorama in the region.
- 💡Lava Lands Visitor Center at Newberry National Volcanic Monument, 11 miles south on US-97, charges a $5 Northwest Forest Pass fee per vehicle (not per person), and the Lava Butte cinder cone trail is a 1-mile paved loop to a 360-degree summit — easily done with kids ages 4 and up in about 40 minutes.
- 💡Parking at Smith Rock State Park costs $5/day (Oregon State Parks day-use fee) but the free overflow lot across the highway on NE Crooked River Drive fills by 8am on summer weekends. Arrive before 7:30am or after 4pm for reasonable parking. The Misery Ridge trail is not appropriate for young children — stick to the flat river trail along the Crooked River for families with kids under 8.
- 💡Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint is a free, city-owned cinder cone in the middle of Bend with a paved road to the summit and a 1.1-mile hiking trail — it is significantly less crowded than Smith Rock and provides the best view of all five Cascade volcanoes from a single point. Sunset visits are popular with locals.
- 💡Jackson's Corner on NW Galveston Ave in the Westside neighborhood is the local family staple for breakfast and lunch — wood-fired pizza, a small play area near the tables, and genuinely kid-tolerant staff. Cash or card accepted and the wait is typically 10-15 minutes shorter than the downtown locations by arriving right at 8am opening.
- 💡The Bend Whitewater Park in the Deschutes River near the Old Mill District has a free splash zone and shallow wade-in area downstream of the main kayak features — local families use it as a de facto beach on weekday afternoons when the summer temperatures climb above 85°F. Bring water shoes as the volcanic rock bottom is sharp.