As the Fourth of July weekend approaches, Central Oregon’s bounteous summer festival season is in full swing. Here’s a look at some of the key events on the schedule for Bend, Redmond, Sisters, and La Pine.
June 28
NorthWest Crossing Hullabaloo: The popular Bend neighborhood’s 6th annual summer street festival features live music (including a performance by Portland-based Blind Pilot), bike races, food, libations, kid-tested fun & more. 3-10 pm, Northwest Crossing Dr. Free. 541-382-1662,x103.
July 2-31
Sisters Quilt Walk: Businesses throughout Sisters display quilts by local quilters during regular business hours. 541-549-0989.
July 4
Recycle Run: 4th annual 5K/8K Fun Run/Walk starting at Sisters Athletic Club & ending at Creekside Park. Recycled T-shirts & prizes awarded after the run. Pre-register at www.sistershabitat.org or sign up 7-8 am on July 4 at Sisters Athletic Club. All proceeds benefit Sisters Habitat for Humanity & Sisters High School Athletics. 541-549-1193.
Sisters Old Fashioned 4th of July Picnic: Bring a potluck salad, side dish or dessert to share; hamburgers & hotdogs will be provided. Don’t miss your chance to win the cherry-pit spitting contest! 1 pm at Cyrus Pond (off Cloverdale), Sisters. Sponsored by the Cloverdale 4-H Livestock Club. 541-771-4979.
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.
Sound Fourth: The Cascade Horizon Band & the Festival Chorus perform patriotic music at 3 pm, followed by an ice cream social. Donations accepted. First Presbyterian Church, Ninth Street, Bend. 541-728-8743.
Fourth of July Barbecue & Blues: BBQ served by members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, beginning at 5:30 pm, with entertainment from the Taelour Project in the parking lot from 6-8 pm. Free; barbecue cost separate (proceeds benefit the VVA). Jake’s Diner, 2210 NE Hwy 20. 541-382-0118.
Bend’s July Fourth Fireworks Spectacular: Fireworks are launched from the top of Pilot Butte in Bend, 10 pm.
Redmond’s Fourth of July Parade: Expect 70+ entries, along with Redmond’s traditional parade of commemorative flags. 10 am start time. Route goes down Sixth Street, from Dogwood to Forest. 541-923-5191.
Redmond’s FreedomFest: The 6th annual family-friendly community event takes place after the Redmond Parade. Lots of games & activities for the kids, plus hot dogs, chili, chips, drinks & live classic-rock music by 41 East. 11 am-2 pm. The Garden, 837 SW Glacier, Redmond. Free. Hosted by Calvary Chapel Redmond. 541-923-8614.
Redmond’s Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration: Featuring games, live music & fun for all ages, including pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house, crafts, contests & more. Live music from two local bands: The Substitutes & Downhill Riders. 11 am-4 pm, Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center. Free. 541-548-7275.
Sunriver Fourth of July Festival: Features a bike parade, rock wall, barbecue, performance by Michael John, games, pony rides & more. $1 per activity ticket; donations accepted (proceeds benefit New Generations Early Childhood Development Center). New Generations Early Childhood Development Center. 541-593-1010.
July 4-6
La Pine Rodeo & Fireworks: 11th annual rodeo; sanctioned by Northwest Professional Rodeo Association. The “Greatest Little Rodeo in Oregon” features action-packed, family-friendly entertainment. July 4: the “Buck & Boom,” a bull-riding-only event, followed by a dance for the entire family held in the rodeo arena, topped off by a Fourth of July fireworks you can watch from the rodeo grandstands. July 5: 3rd Annual CAN Cancer Day. Mutton Bustin’ at 4:30 pm, rodeo starts at 5 pm. July 6: Mutton Bustin’ at 1 pm, rodeo starts at 1:30. Tickets $10 gen adm on Thur; $10-$30 Fri-Sat. 541-420-9889.
July 4-7
Sisters Roundup of Gems: Some 40 displays — more than an acre — of rocks, minerals & fossils from across the world. Sisters Elementary School. 503-829-2680.
July 6
Camp Sherman Holiday Barbecue: delicious food in a down-home setting with the best local musicians. Camp Sherman Store. (541) 595-6711.
July 10
Music on the Green: Summer concert series featuring the bluegrass band The Pitchtones, plus food, crafts, gifts & more. Sam Johnson Park, Redmond. Free. 541-923-5191.
July 10-13
Crooked River Roundup Horse Races: A Prineville tradition since 1966. Crook County Fairgrounds, Prineville. Post Time: 7:15 for the first race every night. $5. 541-447-4479.
July 12-14
Sisters Artists’ Marketplace: Arts & crafts plus live entertainment. Fri. 3-7 pm, Sat 9 am-7 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm. School Administration Building, Cascade & Locust, Sisters. 541-549-8905
Bend Summer Festival: More than 125 fine artists, artisans & craftspeople, plus four stages of regional & national blues, rock & jazz music. Fri 5-11 pm, Sat 11-11; Sun 11 am-6 pm. Downtown Bend. Free.
July 13
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show: 38th annual show –- the world’s largest outdoor quilt show — features a display of more than 1,300 quilts. 9 am-4 pm, downtown Sisters. Free. 541-549-0989.
Tour Des Chutes: Multi-distance social cycling event. Post-ride party features live music, food & vendor village; proceeds benefit the St. Charles Cancer Survivorship Program & the Pediatric Foundation. 6 am, High Lakes Elementary School. $45, $20 ages 15 & younger, $100 family; $55, $30 & $120 after July 6. 541-322-5200.
July 17
Music in the Canyon: Featuring Soul Benders, a party dance band. 5:30-8 pm, American Legion Community Park, Redmond. Free.
July 17-21
Oregon High Desert Classic I: Central Oregon’s premier equestrian & social event. Each Sat offers Grand Prix competition with top horses & riders competing for purses up to $25,000. Grand Prix events held each Sat start at 4:30 pm & are open to the public with no entrance fee beginning at 8 am. Tickets to the Grand Prix’s Patrons Pavilion catered dinner must be purchased in advance. The Mini Prix held each Sunday. Proceeds benefit J Bar J Youth Services. 541-312-6047.
July 19-21
Balloons Over Bend Children’s Festival: See a sky filled with balloon launches on Fri, Sat & Sun mornings, and watch as balloons take flight at sunrise. Riverbend Park, Bend. Friday night, festival-goers invited to experience NightGlow, when each balloon is lit up at dusk. The Children’s Festival runs Sat from 10 am-5 pm & Sun 10 am-2 pm, with more 60 activities, including bouncy houses, face painting, crafts & educational opportunities. Balloons Over Bend is free to the public. Tickets for Package of Bouncy & Activities: $18 for the first child, $15 any additional children. 541-323-0964.
Central Oregon Builders Association Tour of Homes: 24th annual showcase of the finest homes in Central Oregon. Fri noon–6 pm, Sat & Sun 10 am-6 pm. Free. 541-389-1058.
July 20
Glory Daze Car Show: Open to all makes and models through 1989; with live music. 10 am-3 pm, downtown Sisters. 541-549-0251.
July 20-21
Antiques in the Park: Featuring antiques, collectibles, food & entertainment. Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm. Creekside Park, Sisters. Free. 541-420-0279.
July 24-28
Oregon High Desert Classic II: Central Oregon’s premier equestrian & social event. Each Sat offers Grand Prix competition with top horses & riders competing for purses up to $25,000. Grand Prix events held each Sat starting at 4:30 pm are open to the public with no entrance fee, beginning at 8 am. Tickets to the Grand Prix’s Patrons Pavilion catered dinner must be purchased in advance. The Mini Prix held each Sunday. Proceeds benefit J Bar J Youth Services. 541-312-6047.
July 26-28
Central Oregon Builders Association Tour of Homes: 24th annual event — a showcase of the finest homes in Central Oregon. Fri noon– 6 pm, Sat & Sun 10 am-6 pm. Free. 541-389-1058.
July 27-28
Sisters Arts & Crafts Festival: Arts, crafts, food & live entertainment; also, silent auction benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon. Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am- 4 pm. Creekside Park, Sisters. 541-549-8905.
July 31-Aug. 4
Deschutes County Fair & Rodeo: Carnival rides, carnival games, rodeo, rodeo dance & free concerts with ticket (including Cheap Trick, Kip Moore, Aaron Tippin & Kansas). $10, $6 children 6-12, free children 5 & younger, $6 62 & older for daily passes; $19, $11 children 6-12, free children 5 & younger, $11 62 & older for season passes. 541-548-2711.
Aug. 9-10
Country Fair & Art Show: Juried art show Fri 5-8 pm, followed on Sat 10 am-3 pm by fun-filled day with games for kids, pony rides, homemade preserves, food booths, local music, raffles, white elephant sale & homemade crafts a& quilts. Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters. 541-549-7087.
Aug. 9-21
Sunriver Music Festival: 36th season of this classical concert series. This year’s festival theme is “Come Dance With Us – Let the Music Move You.” Each concert includes dance music — from Mozart’s German dances to South American tangos & boot-shuffling Western classics. Great Hall, Sunriver Resort, & Tower Theatre, Bend. Concerts begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets range from $10 for youth tickets to $60 box and premier seats. For schedule, visit www.sunrivermusic.org. 541-593-1084.
Aug. 23-25
Art in the High Desert: Central Oregon’s premier juried art & fine craft festival, showcasing over 100 artists from around the country plus Canada. Along the banks of the Deschutes River, Old Mill District. Free. 541-322-6272.
Aug. 24-25
Sisters Wild West Show: Demonstrations, entertainment & Native American & Western arts & crafts. Creekside Park, Sisters. 541-549-8905.
Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Sisters Western & Native American Arts Festival: Top-quality handmade traditional & Native American wares, including pottery, Western/Native American jewelry, artwork, clothing, metal art, log furniture & more, plus Western music & Native American dancers. 10 am-4 pm at Creekside Park, Sisters. 541-549-0251.
Sept. 6-8
Sisters Folk Festival: 18th annual celebration of American music from blues to bluegrass includes performances by top folk artists & musicians. Multiple venues throughout downtown Sisters. 541-549-4979.
Summer in Central Oregon: A Full Schedule of Area Events
