Happy Memorial Day! Central Oregon’s bounteous summer festival season is officially under way. Here’s a look at some of the key events on the schedule
Saturday, May 27-Monday, May 29
Bend Elks Memorial Day Baseball Tournament: A must-attend event for youth baseball teams throughout Oregon. Tourney starts at 8 am each day. Vince Genna Stadium, Fourth & Wilson. Bend.
Maragas Winery Memorial Weekend Open House: Rather than paying a fee to barrel taste, everyone who brings food for the NeighborImpact food bank receives a complimentary barrel taste & a taste of spring sangria. Sat 11 am-5 pm, Maragas Winery, 15523 SW Hwy 97, Culver.
Saturday, May 27
Barks & Recreation 2017: At this “fun”-raiser for the Bend Spay & Neuter Project, watch fun dog contests like Best Doppleganger (owner/pet look alike), Pie Eating Contest, Best Trick Best Kisser, Best Hair & Best Voice. Plus, live music with Etouffee & a beer garden. 11 am-3 pm, Drake Park, Bend. Free; donations encouraged. 541-617-1010.
BBQ & Car Show: Raffle prizes, music & drinks on the patio. The group’s mission is to prevent veteran suicide through service dog training; they also provide emotional support animals at no cost to veterans. 9 am-3 pm, Bend Elks Lodge, 63120 Boyd Acres. $22/car entry, $22/vendor entry. 541-390-7587.
Brasada Ranchfest: Experience a local farm, ranch & artisan festival featuring local produce, artists, lawn games & live music. 2-5 pm, Brasada’s Range Restaurant & Bar, 16986 SW Brasada Ranch Rd., Powell Butte. Free. 541-526-6870.
Sunday, May 28
Sisters Stampede: The largest mountain bike event in the Pacific Northwest is fun for all ages. Featuring the Peterson Ridge Trail System with limited climbing; the event also features a kids’ race for 2-9 year olds and a total of 180 kids overall to end the Oregon Off Road Series. 9 am, behind Three Creeks Brewery, Sisters. $1,000 Cash prizes for top three men & women. 541-225-7946.
Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser: Traditional pancake breakfast with all-you-can-eat ham, eggs, pancakes, orange juice & coffee. 8-11:30 am, Camp Sherman Hall. $8 adults; $5 kids ages 5-10 (under 5 free). Proceeds benefit Black Butte School & Friends of the Metolius. 541-595-2719.
Memorial Day
We Are Remembering – Not Just A Number: Volunteers from Central Oregon conduct a continuous reading of the name, age and hometown/state of every U.S. service person killed in Afghanistan since 2001 & in Iraq since 2003. Name boards also presented on Troy Field. Presentations 8 am-11 pm, Troy Field. Free. 541-310-0701.
2017 Memorial Day Ceremony: Central Oregon’s largest Memorial Day ceremony honoring Central Oregon veterans. 1-3 pm, Deschutes Memorial Chapel and Gardens, 63875 Hwy 97, Bend. 541-382-5592.
Sisters Memorial Day Ceremony: Sisters VFW Post 8138 & American Legion Post 86 present the annual ceremony, with speakers & a BBQ afterward. Attendees who are able are asked to bring a chair so everyone is able to sit. 11 am-noon, Village Green Park. 541-903-1123 or 541-549-1132.
Sunday, June 4
Heaven Can Wait 5K: Each year on National Cancer Survivors Day, the Heaven Can Wait 5K draws thousands to downtown Bend with a shared mission to raise funds for Sara’s Project, a fund of St. Charles Foundation that provides education, early detection & support services to ease the challenges of breast cancer for people in Central and Eastern Oregon. Bend’s Drake Park, Bend. $25-$40. 541-788-2940.
June 7-11
Sisters Rodeo: “The Biggest Little Show in the World” is now in it’s 77th year. Four performances sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association with a purse of over $100,000. Wed at 6:30 pm: XTreme Bulls official bull-riding tour of the PRCA. Friday at 7 pm: ‘family-night’ performance; Saturday performances at 1 & 7 p.m. Sunday performance at 1 pm. Saturday morning parade at 9:30 a.m. on Cascade Ave. Sunday 7-11 am: Kiwanis Buckaroo pancake breakfast, with a Sunday Cowboy Church service at 9 am. Sisters Rodeo Grounds, 67637 Highway 20. Ticket Hotline: 800-827-7522.
June 12-18
Oregon Senior Games: Competitors from around the country will gather in Bend for a week of athleticism & fun. Athletes ages 40-49 (exhibition only) and 50+ (National Senior Games qualifying age) compete in one of 15 sports. Senior Games awards dinner Sat 5-8 pm, Deschutes Historical Museum. Each participant is invited, & tickets for additional attendees can be purchased for $15. 541-382-8048.
June 15-18
4 Peaks Music Festival: This intimate family-friendly, eclectic festival spans many genres of legendary musicians. 10th annual event, with 3 days & 3 nights of music. $200 plus $15 per vehicle parking fee; camping is free, as are kids 10 & under. Stevenson Ranch, 21085 Knott Rd, Bend. http://4peaksmusic.com.
June 23-25
Bite of Bend: A three-day celebration of the region’s unique ingredients, cuisine & culture, filled with food from more than 40 local vendors, plus beer, spirits, music & events. Fri 5-10 pm, Sat 11 am-10 pm, Sun 11 am-6 pm, downtown Bend. Free. 541.323.0964
July 4
Bend Pet Parade: Critters of all kinds parade through downtown Bend. 10 am; decorating party & lineup begins at 9:30 on Wall Street in front of the Bend La Pine School District Administration Building. 541-389-7275.
Bend’s Old Fashioned July 4th Festival: The Bend celebration continues in Drake Park from 11 am-4 pm. Old-fashioned games from 11 am-3 pm; live music & entertainment 11 am-4 pm on Pavilion Stage; Kids & Family Fun Area: 11 am-4 pm. 541-389-7275.
Bend’s July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular: Fireworks are launched from the top of Pilot Butte in Bend, 10 pm.
July 8
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show: The world’s largest outdoor quilt show, now in its 41st year, draws thousands of quilting fans from across the world & features a display of more than 1,000 quilts. 9 am-4 pm, downtown Sisters. Free. 541-549-0989.
July 14-16 & 21-23
COBA Tour of Homes: The Central Oregon Builders Association’s annual showcase of the finest homes in Central Oregon. Fri noon–6 pm, Sat & Sun 10 am-6 pm. Free. 541-389-1058.
July 28-30
Balloons Over Bend: From the spectacular morning balloon launches to the magical night-glow illumination, this is an awe-inspiring event. All day in the Old Mill District. For the young, a new event on Sat: Balloons Over Bend Children’s Festival, benefiting Saving Grace. The Des Chutes Historical Museum block will be filled with tons of fun activities. 541-604-72000.
Aug 2-6
Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo: Carnival rides, carnival games, rodeo, rodeo dance & free concerts with ticket (including Cheap Trick, Kip Moore, Aaron Tippin & Kansas). Open 10 am daily. $12, $7 children 6-12, free children 5 & younger, $6 62 & older for daily passes; $19, $11 children 6-12, free children 5 & younger, $7 62 & older. 541-548-2711.
Aug 17-22
Oregon Solarfest: Experience the phenomena of this once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse (Sunday at 10:19 am). You can camp with RV or tent & enjoy eclectic music throughout this 4-day festival, with also features global food, craft beer, local spirits & tons of kids’ activities. Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Madras. http://www.oregonsolarfest.com/festival-info.
About the Author
Lisa Broadwater, GRI, CDPE, is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Bend and Redmond.