💥Going out with a bang

Happy New Year, Luminaria take two, and snow piles up at Bachelor

Author

Derek Carlson
December 31, 2024

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Let’s send 2024 out with a bang 💥

In today’s Bend Buzz:

  • 🎉 New Year’s Eve party roundup

  • ❄️ Mt. Bachelor takes the snow crown

  • 🕯️ Luminaria gives it another go

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

🎉 New Year, New Goals, Same Commitment to Protecting You 🎉 

As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your goals, tackle those resolutions, and ensure you’re prepared for whatever life brings. 🚗 ❄️ From snowy road trips to exciting life adventures, your insurance should grow with your plans and protect what matters most. 🏡 ❤️ 

✨ Start the year off right with a FREE policy review at Ryan Walker State Farm! ✨ 

Whether it’s your auto, home, or life insurance, we’ll make sure your coverage is tailored to your unique needs. Let’s work together to ensure you’re ready for anything the new year throws your way. ✅ 

P.S. We’re hiring! 📝 

If you’re looking for a fulfilling career with a supportive team, amazing perks, and opportunities to grow, we’d love to hear from you. 💼 🌟 

📞 Call us at (541) 640-8080 to schedule your review or learn about our open positions!

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

SNAPSHOTS

❄️ Bachelor takes the crown

The holiday storms that have pounded the mountains over the past week have left Mt. Bachelor with one of the deepest snowpacks of any ski resort in North America! With a base of 111” and five feet of snow in just the past week, this ski season is shaping up to be one for the record books.

🛣️ McKenzie Pass will remain open for winter recreation

Earlier this year, folks who use the McKenzie Pass Highway during the winter months experienced a shock when it was announced that the road would be closed for winter recreation use. But in a very welcome change of course, it was announced that the USFS and Mt. Jefferson Snowmobile Club reached an agreement that would allow grooming and recreational use of the road during the 2024/2025 winter season. Here’s hoping a longer-term agreement can be reached so we don’t have to go through this again next winter!

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

🎵 Winter signups for Voices Rising Community Choir: The winter season of the Voices Rising community choir will kick off on January 19th, and signups are taking place now. There is no prior singing experience required to join, no auditions, and all songs are taught by ear. Classes take place on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings.

📣 A new cheerleading facility opens in Bend: Impulse Elite is holding a party on January 2nd to celebrate the opening of their brand new cheerleading facility off of Old Deschutes Market Rd. Dress to impress and expect snacks, music, and plenty of fun for the family. January 2nd 5 - 8 PM 63625 Old Deschutes Market Rd

@THEBENDBUZZ

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LOCAL LOWDOWN

Tuesday

🧶 Knit and craft meetup: Join the crew from Central Oregon Crochet, Knit, and Sew for a knit and craft meetup at Market of Choice. This event takes place every Tuesday morning and is a great way to chat with fellow crafters while working on your latest project. 10 AM - 12 PM Market of Choice

🧘 NYE Yoga: Namaspa Yoga will be holding special NYE yoga classes all day featuring cacao ceremonies, mocktails, EDM party flow, breathwork, & more. 9:30 AM - 7:45 PM 1135 NW Galveston Ave

🕯️ Luminaria - take two: Last week’s Luminaria event at Mt. Bachelor was canceled due to the ongoing storm, and attempt #2 is taking place tonight. So once again, strap on those cross-country skis or snowshoes and enjoy a candlelit 2km saunter through the forest. 5 - 8 PM Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center

🪩 All the NYE parties, dinners, and other shindigs: See the full lineup below ⬇️ 

Wednesday

🏃 New Year’s run: What better way is there to kick off the new year than by heading out on a run with the Central Oregon Running Klub? New year, new you, right? 10 AM Footzone

☘️ New Year’s nature day walk: If last night was a little too much fun and a run isn’t in the cards, how about a relaxing nature walk instead? Join the Native Plant Society of Oregon for a relaxing walk where you will get the chance to identify plants and meet fellow naturalophiles (I’m pretty sure that isn’t a word, but I’m using it anyway). 10 AM Riverbend Park

🎿 New Year’s relay: Kick off the new year in style by putting on your favorite costume and competing in the 6km nordic relay at Mt. Bachelor. Teams consist of three members skiing 2km each, so even the late-night revelers won’t have to suffer for too long. 10 AM Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center

🧘‍♂️ Confluence breathwork yoga: Start off 2025 on the right foot, or breath in this case, with a breathwork yoga class at Namaspa Yoga. This class is a great way to learn the fundamentals of breathwork to help relieve stress. 5 - 6 PM 1135 NW Galveston Ave

Thursday

❔ Trivia night at Wonderland: Headgames Trivia is coming to the new Wonderland Chicken location in downtown Bend. Check out the new space and win some prizes to get the new year started right. 7 - 9 PM 806 NW Brooks St

📘 Fiction book club night: The first fiction book club night of 2025 is here, and this month's book of choice is In Memoriam by Alice Winn. 6 - 7 PM 900 NW Mt Washington Dr

🤸 Open gym at Lava City Cirque: Bend’s newest aerial gym, Lava City Cirque, is opening up their space for free play every day from 1 - 5 PM through the end of winter break. All ages are welcome to come flip, spin, and fly in the studio. Pre-registration is required (this guide will walk you through the process) 1 - 5 PM 53075 Crusher Ave

NEW YEAR PARTY ROUNDUP

In case you missed our NYE party roundup in the last newsletter, here’s a reminder. We’ve also added a few more events where you can ring in the new year in style.

LIVE MUSIC

Tuesday

⬆️ See above for the NYE party/dinner/live music roundup

Wednesday

Crosscut Warming Hut | Ghost of Brian Craig | 6 PM
The Belfy | Pete Kartsounes | 11:30 AM - 3 PM | Tickets

Thursday

Suttle Lodge | Eric Leadbetter | 6 PM | Tickets
Silver Moon Brewing | Kota Dosa | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Volcanic Theatre Pub | Pink Talking Fish | 8 PM | Tickets
Commonwealth Pub | Dail Croome | 6:30 PM
River’s Place | Blackstrap Bluegrass | 6 PM

CHANGES FOR 2025 IN THE BEND BUZZ

New Year. New you. Here are some new features coming to the Bend Buzz in 2025.

Monthly Roundups

Starting on Friday, I’ll be publishing a once-a-month roundup of the top events happening in Bend in the month ahead. Hopefully, this helps folks avoid the dreaded Sold Out notice for some of the more popular events around town.

Job Postings

Have a job you want to promote to our nearly 6,000 subscribers? Looking for a new job and tired of getting ghosted after applying to positions on the big job boards? Let’s make searching for awesome local applicants or your next dream job a little easier.

Hiring managers - shoot me an email ([email protected]) with your open positions, and I’ll post them here.

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 5,900+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → [email protected]