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🤣 Comedy comes to Bend

🤣 Comedy comes to Bend

Bend Comedy Fest kicks off, Reggae comes to the fairgrounds, and a downtown sidewalk sale

Derek Carlson
August 29, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! A quick programming note before we get on to the good stuff - we will not be sending out a newsletter on Monday. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

🤣 Bend Comedy Fest brings the laughs to town
🇯🇲 Raggae Rise Up comes to the fairgrounds
🛍️ Shop til you drop

Let’s get to it.

— Emily Randolph & Derek Carlson

SNAPSHOTS

😆 Bend Comedy Fest Brings the Laughs

The first of hopefully many iterations of the Bend Comedy Festival kicks off on Friday and continues all weekend long at venues across town. We’ve highlighted a few of the events taking place in the roundup below, but if you want to take part in allll the action, I’m pretty sure you can still grab an All Access Pass.

For a festival that was nothing more than an idea in a text message a year ago, it’s downright impressive to see the lineup they’ve been able to put together in such a short time!

🤘 Reggae Rise Up Comes to the Fairgrounds

Want to take in a weekend of Reggae music instead? Reggae Riseup is bringing some of the top talent in the world of Reggae to the Deschutes County Fairgrounds for three days of music and art. Swing by for a day or grab a camping pass and make a weekend of it.

📆 Premium Subscriber Club

It’s that time again when we share our premium subscriber perk for the month of September? What is the premium subscriber club, you may ask? Well, I’m glad you did! It’s a way for folks to directly support the Bend Buzz with a small monthly donation. In return, we offer a perk at a local business. These have included free memberships to coworking spaces, free coffee, breakfast burritos, and more!

This month’s perk is a 25% discount for a family photo session with MOT Photography (because we all know that fall in Central Oregon is THE time for taking those adorable family shots). Want to get in on the action? Sign up ⬇️

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

💄 Sephora’s 5-year anniversary party: Celebrate five years of Sephora all weekend long at their Old Mill District location. To commemorate the occasion, they will be offering special deals, free gifts with purchase, and special services at their beauty studio.

@THEBENDBUZZ

📸 by Lori | 📍 Airshow of the Cascades
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

TOGETHER WITH APOGEE BEND

School is back in session, and Apogee Bend is ready to welcome families to their brand new location! Situated on 5 acres just outside of town, Apogee offers a unique approach to learning with both full-time and part-time programs. The full-time program kicks off on Wednesday, September 3rd, with ongoing enrollment available if you realize a few weeks into the year that your child needs a better fit. The part-time project-based learning program (M–Th, 12:30–3 PM) launches Monday, September 8th.

Tours are available daily, and founding family discounts are still on the table. Schedule your tour today!

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 8.29

🎨 Women’s Only Watercolor + Yoga: Find your flow in one of Bend’s most scenic state parks. This women’s-only evening begins with a grounding yoga practice among the pines, followed by a chance to channel your creativity into a watercolor painting inspired by the landscape. A perfect combo of fresh air, movement, and art. 5:30 PM Tumalo State Park

🍻 The Little Woody Kicks Off: The beloved Little Woody Festival kicks off with a night of beer, cider, wine, and whiskey. Dress to impress in your best gnome outfit to complete the mood. 5 PM Deschutes Historical Museum

👢 Boots & Brews Country Dance Night: Slide on those boots and hit the floor at Worthy. With live country music, dance lessons, and plenty of space to two-step under the twinkle lights, it’s a down-home Friday night Bend-style. Brews are, of course, flowing. 6 PM Worthy Brewing

🎭 Under the Stars: Musical Theatre Cabaret: Join as local talent takes the stage in this cabaret of Broadway hits. With Cascades Theatrical Company’s flair for fun and drama, this one’s got star power and Central Oregon charm. 7:30 PM Cascades Theatrical Company

🍸 Bend Comedy Festival Cocktail Hour: Before the punchlines drop, sip on cocktails at San Simon’s cozy courtyard patio. Meet comedians, mingle with locals, and toast the start of festival weekend in true Bend fashion. 3 PM San Simon

😂 Comedy & Fun w/ Angel Ocasio: Bring the whole family downtown for an afternoon of physical comedy, clowning, and giggles with Angel Ocasio. It’s a free, lighthearted way to kick off the weekend—because laughter belongs in the library, too. 4 PM Downtown Bend Library

🌆 Rooftop Revival Party: Celebrate the reopening (and reroofing) of the beloved Skyliner Lodge. The afternoon will be filled with live music, kid-friendly activities, and food & drinks. 5:30 PM Skyliner Lodge

🎬 Movies in the Park: Mufasa: Pack a blanket, grab snacks, and settle into Alpenglow Park’s big lawn for a night with Disney’s Mufasa. It’s family movie magic with Bend’s newest park as the backdrop. 7 PM Alpenglow Park

Saturday 8.30

🏃 The Little Woody Beer Run: Run, sip, repeat! This fun run starts at The Commons and winds through downtown Bend, with beer-tasting pit stops along the way. Equal parts exercise and celebration, it’s a quintessential Bend combo. 12 PM The Commons

📖 Finding Gobi: Meet the marathoner who found a scrappy little dog in the middle of a desert race — and ended up finding a lifelong friend. This inspiring storytime brings adventure, heart, and one very good pup. 10 AM Downtown Bend Library

🐾 Dog Days of Summer Market: Bring your pup to Ponch’s Place for a tail-wagging good time. Local vendors, treats, and adoptable dogs make this market a summer tradition for Bend’s dog-loving community. 11 AM Ponch’s Place

🌈 The Gay Show: Celebrate pride and punchlines at this comedy showcase highlighting queer voices. Expect bold, hilarious sets and a rowdy, supportive crowd — Bend’s queer comedy scene at its finest. 6:30 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🧘 Outdoor Silent Disco Yoga: Flow to the beat of your own headphones at LOGE’s outdoor yoga disco. You’ll move, stretch, and vibe to music only you can hear — surrounded by Bend’s evergreen backdrop. 9:30 AM LOGE

🥾 Movement. Connection. Growth.: That’s what RuckTalks is all about. Join a growing group of local men who meet weekly for a weighted walk and real conversation. Sign up to get each week’s details.

🛍️ The Great Annual Downtown Sidewalk Sale: Bend’s biggest sidewalk sale is back! Local shops spill out onto the streets with deals, steals, and treasures. Perfect for strolling downtown, supporting small businesses, and finding something unexpected. 11 AM - 4 PM Downtown Bend

👩‍👧 Mom + Me Hike & Yoga: Start the day with a family-friendly adventure in nature. A gentle hike and yoga practice by the river makes for quality bonding time in one of Bend’s prettiest spots. 9:30 AM Tumalo State Park

🚵‍♂️ Redline Rally: This invitation-only event features some of the region’s top local riders—both groms and legends—bringing their skills, stoke, and style to the famed Redline Trail. Want to soak up the energy? Come cheer, ring cowbells, and witness jaw-dropping tricks and speed. 10:30 AM Mt. Bachelor

💃 Jazzercise w/ Jasmine Rogers: Part workout, part comedy show—Jasmine channels pure ’80s Jazzercise vibes while getting you moving. Laugh at her, laugh at yourself, and embrace the chaos of trying to follow along. If you’ve ever wanted a dance class with zero judgment and maximum silliness, this is your jam! 12 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🐶 Humane Society Clear the Shelter Party: Join the Humane Society of Central Oregon for a fun-filled day with food (a little birdie said that Bonta will be there serving up scoops), drinks, games, prizes, and some incredible animals waiting to meet you. Their goal? Find a loving home for every adoptable pet at HSCO. 10 AM - 5:30 PM 61170 SE 27th Street

Sunday 8.31

📲 Short Attention Span Show: Think of this as the TikTok version of a comedy show, as a rapid-fire lineup keeps the jokes flowing fast. This is a free event. 3 PM Silver Moon Brewing

🎷 Afternoon Jazz in the Vineyard: Sip award-winning local wine while smooth jazz drifts across the vines. With views of the Cascades and a soundtrack to match, this Sunday session is pure Bend magic.11:30 AM Maragas Winery

🌽 Farmers Market: Fresh-picked produce, local crafts, and the Worthy Brewing vibe all come together at this community market. Stock up for the week and stay for a pint. 10 AM Worthy Brewing

🧠 Trivia at The Commons: Wind down the weekend with a brain-busting trivia night. Bring a team, grab a drink, and compete for bragging rights at one of Bend’s coziest hangouts. 6 PM The Commons

😆 Susan Rice Bring the Laughs: Head over to the Riverhouse for a morning of laughs courtesy of Bend Comedy Fest headliner, Susan Rice. 11 AM Riverhouse Convention Center

UPCOMING EVENTS

🏃‍♀️ Run Your Happiest! Fall Training Group: Ladies, replace the guilt and the grind of running with a happiness-first approach. This intermediate-level, 9-week training group will center joyful movement and community while building mileage and skills. Freshen your mindset and revolutionize your run! Starts Saturday, September 6th. Sign up by Sunday, 8/31 to get $30 off with code BUZZ

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 8.29

Saturday 8.30

Sunday 8.31

THANKS!

Stay cool, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 13,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → [email protected]

🤣 Comedy comes to Bend

Bend Comedy Fest kicks off, Reggae comes to the fairgrounds, and a downtown sidewalk sale

SPONSORED BY RILL

SNAPSHOTS

😆 Bend Comedy Fest Brings the Laughs

🤘 Reggae Rise Up Comes to the Fairgrounds

📆 Premium Subscriber Club

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

@THEBENDBUZZ

TOGETHER WITH APOGEE BEND

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Friday 8.29

Saturday 8.30

Sunday 8.31

UPCOMING EVENTS

LIVE MUSIC

Friday 8.29

Saturday 8.30

Sunday 8.31

THANKS!