TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Should be a good weekend for the fair (albeit a bit toasty today).

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson

Time to Boogie, Bend! 

Since opening in May, we’ve hit our stride. Now it’s time to throw the ultimate celebration for you & your crew. 

We’re opening our doors for a complimentary evening packed with live music, local food and drinks, and incredible energy (think confetti cannons, a ribbon cutting, and epic dance moves).

Come dance, connect with neighbors, and help us crank up the vibe on Hill Street.
RSVP on Eventbrite here!

Can’t wait until September 24th to visit us? 
You can book a tour of the space here anytime.

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

Just a quick reminder that we have a couple of events coming up this month where you can meet some new folks and build that social circle. The first is our Meet Your Neighbors event happening on August 8th from 4 - 6 PM.

Meet Your Neighbors is a decentralized event where folks (that means you!) invite their neighbors over for a popsicle and conversation in their front yard. We had a good number of folks sign up to host, but we could always use more! All you need to be able to do is hand out some invites around your neighborhood and hang out and chat with your neighbors for a couple of hours. If you’re interested, you can fill out this form, and I’ll send over a personalized invite that you can print off and hand out.

Second is a reminder that our August dinner club is coming up on August 26th at 6 PM. This one will be taking place at restaurants along Century Dr, and after dinner, we’ll all be meeting up for beverages at a watering hole in the area. We’ve already got 43 folks signed up, so this should be a good one!

This note goes hand in hand with the above reminders. After I shared the idea for Meet Your Neighbors, I had three folks point me towards the Weaver Awards offered by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council. The Weaver Awards are microgrants ($2,500 - $5,000) that will be awarded to at least 20 individuals or non-profits to support a "weaving" project in their community. Weaving is any project or initiative that brings neighbors together build relationships, foster connection, and creates belonging.

While the timing didn’t work for this go-around, I wanted to share this opportunity for other folks who may be interested in hosting their own weaving events in Central Oregon. The application is pretty short, and the deadline to apply is August 22nd at 5 PM. Awards will likely be issued in early 2027. If you’re interested, you can learn more here.

💮 Inaugural Lavender Fest at Tumalo Lavender: Tumalo Lavender is celebrating summer by launching their inaugural Lavender Festival on Saturday. The event will feature u-pick options, live music from Velvet Thunder, food and drinks from local food trucks, family-friendly activities, and local vendors. Want to make a day of it? That evening, pianist Paula Dryer will be holding a golden hour piano flow concert (we went to this last year, and it was wonderful).

🍺 GoodLife Brewing 15th Anniversary Bash: GoodLife Brewing is throwing a backyard bash to celebrate their 15th(!!) anniversary. Enjoy $4 Sweet As brews all day, music from The Dad Bods at 6 PM, vendors, and fun for the whole family. The fun takes place from 11:30 AM - 9 PM on Saturday, August 1st.

🎉 Flux Block Party: Can’t get enough of parties at the Century Center? Head back over on Sunday for Flux’s block party, which will feature live music, food, drink, fitness, and wellness vendors. The fun kicks off at 3 PM and continues through the afternoon.

🍜 Nguyen’s Kitchen opens at Base Camp: The new Base Camp food cart pod has rounded out its food lineup as Nguyen’s Kitchen opened earlier this week. This new-to-Bend cart serves up authentic Vietnamese food.

📸 Holly Z. |📍Holly’s back yard
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

🎒 A New Preschool for Bend's Littlest Leaders

If you've looked for preschool in Bend lately, you know the drill. Long waitlists, short hours, and not many spots that feel like the right fit.

That's why Sean and Jenna Minard, founders of Bend Leadership Academy, launched Early Leaders Preschool for kids ages 3 to 5.

Days are shaped around curiosity, movement, and play, because kids that age are a lot more capable than we give them credit for.

Bend Buzz readers get 10% off 2026-2027 tuition. Just put BendBuzz in the "Discounted Tuition Referral Code" box on the contact form.

👉 Get in touch here, and Sean or Jenna will reach out personally within 24 hours. No pressure, just a conversation about whether it's a fit for your family.

🎡 Deschutes County Fair: Fun at the fair continues all weekend long with rodeo action, carnival rides, deep-fried food (although I’m sure there are some non-deep-fried options), and more! The headline music acts include Ja Rule (tonight), Clay Walker (Saturday), and Banda Carnaval (Sunday). Fri - Sun at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds

⚾ Marion Berries vs Bend Elks: Catch the last (regular season) Bend Elks home games of the year as they play host to the Marion Berries. There are games all weekend long. 6:35 PM Vince Genna Stadium

🎵 Bands for Bread: Head to Boneyard Pub for a day of live music and raising money for St. Vincent de Paul of Bend. St. Vincent provides vital food, housing, shelter, and community support programs to those in need. 12 PM Boneyard Pub

🧘 Yoga in the Park: Take your yoga outside with this class at Miller’s Landing Park. Make sure to sign up beforehand! 12 PM Millers Landing

🏔️ Friday Night Races: Racers charge down the mountain as the afternoon light turns golden. A thrilling Friday tradition to close out the month. 3:30 PM Mt. Bachelor

🧆 Falafel Night: Bo's Bagels turns back the clock for a Friday falafel night that sounds absolutely delicious. Show up early, as I’m sure there will be a line. 5:30 PM Bo's Bagels

🎭 Shakespeare at Maragas Winery: Cymbeline comes to life among the vines at Maragas Winery for an outdoor Shakespeare evening that's as beautiful as it is dramatic. 7 PM Maragas Winery

🌸 Serendipity Saturday Market: A curated Saturday market at one of Bend's most charming home and garden shops. 10 AM Pomegranate Home & Garden

🚗 Cars & Coffee: Bring your cool car or just come and browse the rides that other folks are showing off. Cups of coffee are just a buck. 8 AM Bend Nazarene Church

🤲 Activate Your Inner Vision: Anchored in the insight of the Third Eye Chakra, this journey guides you beyond mental chatter and into the spacious, intuitive knowing that sees clearly when you stop trying so hard to figure it all out. 10 AM Hanai

🧺 NWX Farmers Market: Pack up the wagon and head to the market for what should be a perfect morning of shopping, live music, and (if you’re like us) playing at the playground while munching on berries. 10 AM NWX

🎸 Willie and Friends: Unbroken Circle: Head to Silver Moon for Willie & Friends: Unbroken Circle, an evening of live music celebrating the spirit of songwriters, poets, outlaws, and highwomen while supporting two organizations making a real difference in Central Oregon. 4 PM Silver Moon

🌭 Glizzies & Fizzies: Hot dogs and fizzy drinks at Boneyard Pub. Sounds like a match made in heaven! There will be a hot dog eating contest, live music, and (most importantly) special merch to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime event. 11 AM Boneyard Pub

🛍️ The Vintage & Makers Market: A curated Saturday market of vintage finds and handmade goods at Crux Fermentation Project. 12 PM Crux

🎹 Sunset Piano Flow: Come wander through the fields of lavender while taking in the sounds of Paula Dryer’s piano flow live. 7 PM Tumalo Lavender Farm

💦 Splish Splash: Bend Burlesque Company is back, and this time they're making a splash. A water-themed burlesque blowout celebrating everything beachy, pool party, and aquatic, from slip 'n slides to sultry sea sirens. 7 PM Bunk & Brew

🎤 Saturday Night Karaoke: Think you can belt out the best version of Golden by the Bongo Cats? Put your money where your mouth is at this fun, family-friendly karaoke night. 6 - 9 PM Bridge 99

💃 Rise Up & Groove: Finish the weekend right with a free dance party on the west lawn at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Rise Up & Groove will be providing the beats. They just need you to provide the moves. 8:30 AM Hayden Homes Amphitheater

🎶 Bend Pops Summer Concert: It isn’t summer without a concert from the Bend Pops Orchestra. This free event is taking place at Hollinshead Barn, and you’re welcome to wander and come and go as you please. 2 PM Hollinshead Barn

💥 Demolition Derby: SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! IT’S THE DEMOLITION DERBY AT THE FAIR! COME WATCH THE MOST EXTREME EVENT IN CENTRAL OREGON! ONE NIGHT ONLY! 12 PM Deschutes County Fair

🌿 Herbal Plant Walk: Come learn to identify the herbal plants that grow right here in Bend with this guided walk along the river. 4 PM Location TBA

🎹 Riverside Piano Flow: Paula Dryer is back with another piano flow live, with this one taking place along the banks of the Deschutes at Drake Park. 5:30 PM Drake Park

🌅 Sunset Yoga: Close out the weekend with a sunset yoga session at the Old Mill. A peaceful and beautiful way to ease into the new week. 7:15 PM Free Spirit Old Mill

Kr3ture | Volcanic Theatre Pub Courtyard | 5 PM | Tickets
Koe Wetzel | Hayden Homes | 6 PM | Tickets
Lost Operators | Boneyard Pub | 6 PM
Joanna Lee Trio | Discovery West | 5 PM
Deltaphonic | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Steve Earle | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets
JA Rule | Deschutes County Fair | 8 PM | Tickets
Linda Quon & Hello Trouble | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM
Legend Zeppelin | Domino Room | 9 PM | Tickets

The White Buffalo | Volcanic Theatre Pub Courtyard | 6 PM | Tickets
Keenan TreVon | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Jeshua Marshall & The Flood | Elk Lake Resort | 5 PM
Heller Highwater band | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM
Dad Bods Band | GoodLife Brewing | 6 PM
Lindsey Stirling | Hayden Homes | 7 PM | Tickets

Lilli Worona & John Shipe | River’s Place | 6 PM
The Robert Cray Band | Tower Theatre | 8 PM | Tickets

Stay cool, and thank you again for reading!

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