TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this point, but it’s another shockingly busy weekend around town.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

You’re Invited: Kiln Bend Open House

The wait is almost over! This spring, Kiln Bend officially opens its doors as a new hub for our local community. We’ve designed this 43,000-square-foot space to be more than just a place to work; it’s a lifestyle-focused center where people can connect, learn, move, and thrive.

Come see the progress and learn how you can utilize our professional meeting rooms, wellness programming, and collaborative spaces (fitness suite, podcast studio and more). 

Beverages will be provided as we explore the space! 
Note: Expect a little dust as we put on the finishing touches. We can’t wait to show you around!

_{Interested in featuring your business in our next ad spot? ⬆️ Fill out THIS FORM!}

A few months back, we shared the news that Realms High School and Bend Tech Academy would be merging into a single school for the 2026/27 school year. Well, that new school has a name - Deschutes River High. It will be located at the Bend Tech site and will be part of the school choice program with a focus on interdisciplinary, project-based work, college-level advanced placement classes, and career and technical education.

⛷ Indoor ski/snowboard training facility opening: Want to get your little ones slope-ready without having to stand around on the bunny hill in 15-degree weather? A new business is here to do just that. Shredder Ski & Snowboard Facility is opening up next week in the Blackstrap Campus (which is also home to Work Collective coworking space and Junction Roastery) at the corner of 9th and Wilson. They’ll be offering drop-in classes March 18- 29, followed by spring and summer camps where kids ages 1 - 10 can learn the basics of skiing or snowboarding on their indoor hill.

🍱 Pan Japanese Kitchen opens off of 3rd St: A new Japanese takeout spot called Pan Japanese Kitchen quietly opened up recently off of 3rd St in the old Sweetheart Donuts location. Owned by the same folks who run Thai Table, they will be offering up Japanese staples like bento boxes, teriyaki and poke bowls, soups, and sides.

🥘 JOOLZ Popup at Discovery West: It’s been four years since JOOLZ closed the doors to their downtown Bend restaurant, but now, for one weekend only, you can get a taste of some of their classics as they will be popping up at Discovery West. They’ll be offering spice blends, dukkah nuts, hummus and baba, and the nearly famous sticky toffee date cake, just to name a few. Expect some lines for this one!

🍅 Schilling’s Garden Market opens for summer (+ a new farmers market): It must truly be spring as Schilling’s Garden Market will be opening for the season today (Friday). In addition to opening their beautiful garden space, they also announced that they will be hosting a monthly farmers market on the last Sunday of each month and are looking for vendors.

📸 @bendparks |📍Bend Park and Rec
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

Is Your Child Thriving in School or Just Getting Through It?

For some kids, traditional classrooms just don’t click. They’re bored, disengaged, or simply not thriving in a one-size-fits-all system built around lectures, tests, and screens.

That’s where Bend Leadership Academy offers a different approach.

At BLA, students learn in small groups through real projects that build both academics and life skills — communication, leadership, ownership, and confidence. The day starts with movement and play to help kids focus, followed by hands-on learning and thoughtful discussions that encourage curiosity and critical thinking.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where your child might thrive, Bend Leadership Academy is now enrolling for Fall.

Want to learn more? Swing by tomorrow, March 14th, at 10 AM for an Open House & Info Session to tour the school and meet the team.

​​🐟 The Pisces Party: Pisces season deserves a proper send-off, and Silver Moon is delivering with Eric Leadbetter & Friends, Rusty Frets, and Sweet Demon on one stage. 7 PM Silver Moon

🖋️ India Ink Demo Night: Come watch someone make beautiful chaos with ink and walk away either deeply inspired or immediately signing up for the full workshop. 5:30 PM Freak'n Art

🍺 Craft & Draft: Makers and beer in the same room. Each month features a brand new crafting project. No experience or materials required. 6 PM Craft Kitchen

🎭 Page to Screen Family Night – The Wild Robot: The Tower Theatre brings The Wild Robot to the big screen for a family night that'll have the kids riveted and the adults quietly crying. A perfect Friday evening for the whole crew. 6 PM Tower Theatre

🏳️‍🌈 Dyke Night: A dedicated space to gather, celebrate, and have a genuinely great Friday night. Come as you are. 7 PM Dogwood at the Pine Shed

🍸 Happy Hour en Español: Join Jennifer from Gringo Language Academy at Los Andes Bar & Café for an afternoon of happy hour specials while you practice your español in a low-pressure setting. 4 PM Los Andes Bar & Café

😂 Dr. Brady Smith: A comedian with a doctorate, which means the jokes come with credentials. Catch him at Volcanic for a Friday night that's equal parts smart and silly. 7 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

👩‍🎨 Art + Health: Join Scalehouse and Health Care for All Oregon (HCAO) for an Open House to learn about Oregon's universal healthcare legislation and what it means for all of us. 5:30 PM Scalehouse Gallery

🎿 Ski for All: Oregon Adaptive Sports opens the mountain to everyone with their annual fundraiser day at Mt. Bachelor. An incredible organization doing incredibly important work — go show them some love and some turns. 8 AM Mt. Bachelor

💚 St. Patrick's Day Dash: Strap on your greenest shoes and run through the Old Mill District with a few hundred of your closest strangers. Arguably the most festive 5K of the year. 12 PM Old Mill District

🏓  Paddle for a Purpose: Grab your paddle—the pickleball kind—and make it count. A fundraiser at Widgi Creek that lets you work up a sweat and support a good cause at the same time. Competitive, charitable, and a very good Saturday afternoon.  4 PM Widgi Creek Golf Club

👩‍⚕️ Dine with your Gyn: Dinner with your gynecologist sounds like the setup to a joke, but this is actually a fantastic chance to ask the questions you never quite get around to at your annual appointment—all over good food and zero awkward paper gowns. 5 PM Bar RBC

🏃‍♀ Learn to Run Kickoff: Is running a 5k in your goals for 2026, but you need a little boost to get started? Michelle from Ceiling Unlimited is kicking off her 9-week learn to run class that is part exercise and part community building, as every Saturday run is followed by time for a coffee afterwards. 8:30 AM Location shared after signup

🌲 Saturdays at Skyliner: Nature Connect is hosting their last Saturdays at Skyliner event of the winter (if you can call it that). The lodge will be open with hot cocoa, sweet treats, and special activities for the whole family. 9 AM - 2 PM Skyliner Lodge

😂 Comedy Night at the Moon: Anthony Poponi takes the stage at Silver Moon for a night of laughs. It is sure to be intimate, lively, and always fun. 7:30 PM Silver Moon

🎤 Comedy at Craft: More laughs, more craft beer—Bend is apparently very committed to making sure you have a funny Saturday night, and we respect it. 8 PM Craft Kitchen

🐶 Paws & Pints: Think First Friday, but for pups and their humans. Bring your furry friends to check out some dog-friendly pop-ups, treats and tastings, and adoptable dogs from Street Dog Hero. 12 - 3 PM Greg’s Grill

🎵 Free Music Education Workshop: Your opportunity to meet, listen, and ask questions, learn from, and maybe even "jam" with the pros as part of the Jazz at the Oxford series. 10:30 AM Oxford Hotel

⛷ Great Nordeen: After a slight delay, the Great Nordeen XC ski and fat bike race is happening…albeit with a modified course. 8:30 AM MT Bachelor

💫 Stargazing & S’mores: Meet some new friends, stare up to the stars, and cook up some tasty s’mores over the campfire with the crew from New Friends Bend. 7 PM Brown Park Ranch

🎶 Cascade Chorale Concert: This weekend isn’t all about Irish music and green beer. The Cascade Chorale will be performing two concerts this weekend, and best of all, they’re free! 7 PM (4 PM on Sunday) Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

⛸ Free Ice Skating Day: It’s Absolutely Incredible Kid Day at the Pavilion. The first 200 kids will get free ice skating, and teens can volunteer to help make this event a success. 12:30 PM The Pavilion

🐾 Snowshoe & Carnivore Tracking with Think Wild: Strap on some snowshoes and learn to read the winter landscape like a wildlife detective. Wanderlust Tours and Think Wild team up for a morning that'll make you feel like you actually know things about the outdoors. 8 AM Wanderlust Tours

♻️ Resellers Row: Vintage, secondhand, and pre-loved goods at Dogwood at the Pine Shed. Your next favorite thing is out there waiting—go find it. 11 AM Dogwood at the Pine Shed

🎬 BendFilm Gala: The BendFilm fundraiser heads to Tetherow for an afternoon of cinema love and community celebration. Support independent film, drink something nice, feel cultured. 3 PM Tetherow Resort Event Pavilion

🍀 Irish & St. Patrick's Trivia: Cap off the green weekend with a pint and some trivia at The Commonwealth. How much do you actually know about Ireland? Probably less than you think. Time to find out. 6:30 PM The Commonwealth Pub

📚 Creating Connections: Head to the new Bend Tea + Art Lounge for the kickoff of the Self, Community, and Relationships book club. Expect snacks, prizes, and meaningful low-level awkwardness connection games, plus a preview of the books and the community they’re building. 11 AM Bend Tea + Art Lounge

John Lloyd Young | The Oxford Hotel | 6 PM | Tickets
Mari & the Dream | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
T’l the Wheels Fall Off | McMenamins | 7 PM | Tickets
Son of Wolf | Currents | 7 PM
Tony Smiley | Portello Lounge | 7 PM

Mari & the Dream | Bend Brewing | 2 PM
School of Rock | Bend Brewing | 4 PM
Piña Colada | Stoller Wine Bar | 5 PM
Alicia Viani Trio & Zipline | McMenamins - O’Kanes | 2 - 8 PM
Big Foot County & Maxwell Friedman Group | McMenamins - Father Luke’s Room | 4 - 11 PM
Not Your Ex Lover | M&J Tavern | 9 PM
Switchback | Northside Bar & Grill | 8 PM
Call Down Thunder | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 8 PM | Tickets
Diver Bar Theology | Bend Brewing | 4:30 PM 
John Lloyd Young | The Oxford Hotel | 5 PM | Tickets
James Townsend | The Cellar | 6 PM
Paper Flowers | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
512: The Selena Experience | Tower Theatre | 7 PM | Tickets
Bella Emry | Portello Lounge | 7 PM

Beverly Anderson | River’s Place | 5 PM
Possibly Irish | The Domino Room | 7 PM | Tickets 
Mitchum Yacoub & Jungle Fire | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Lespecial | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 8 PM | Tickets
Double Trouble | Commonwealth Pub | 6:30 PM

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 16,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → [email protected]