TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! And thanks to everyone for being a good sport about Wednesday’s April Fools joke with the outdoors guide. With leap year coming up I won’t be publishing on April 1st again until 2030, so you all are safe for awhile.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

There’s something about Sisters that’s hard to replicate. It’s growing, yes, but it still holds onto that small-town feel, the kind where you can walk downtown, know your neighbors, and feel part of something.

A lot of buyers assume they’ve missed their shot here, but that’s not necessarily true. There are still opportunities to get into the Sisters market for under $600,000.

Take my new listing at 840 N Hindeman St. It’s within walking distance to downtown, close to great schools, and sits right in the middle of a community that people move here for in the first place.

If Sisters has been on your radar, this might be your window.

Shoot me an email at [email protected] and I’m happy to share more about all the great things the Sisters community has to offer.

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

We’re back with the April edition of First Friday, and this month the kids are running the show. Businesses across downtown Bend will be showcasing art and music from Bend’s youngest artists. You can find the full list of participating businesses here. And if you want to have even more fun you can swing by the Old Mill for their First Friday fun before making your way downtown. Studios there will be open from 3 - 6 PM with the downtown fun happening from 5 - 8 PM.

Bend’s most outdoorsy hotel (how many spots in town have a mountain bike trail winding through the property??) is reopening early this summer as Mt Bachelor is taking over the space. The new hotel will be called Trailhead Lodge and will offer up the same outdoorsy amenities that made this a favorite for visitors looking to hit the trails. More details to come.

Turns out it is Easter this weekend, and that means there will be egg hunts taking place all over Bend. I was gonna list them in the event roundup below, but figured it’d be a little easier to have them all in a handy dandy list. So if your little ones want to experience the thrill of bringing home a basket of hard-boiled candy-filled plastic eggs, here you go.

Friday Egg Hunts

Saturday Egg Hunts

Sunday Egg Hunts

🧶 The Pantry anniversary party: The Pantry is celebrating another trip around the sun, and you're invited. Get Up and Groove will be providing the tunes, and The Pantry will be unveiling its first merch lineup. Saturday from 10 AM - Noon

🪨 Grand reopening party at Petersen Rock Garden: The museum at Petersen Rock Garden has undergone a facelift and is ready to reopen to the public. Swing by on Saturday from 1 - 4 PM to tour the grounds, tour the restored museum, and enjoy some local treats and eats from Dropping Beets.

🎨 New Arts and Learning Center Open House: Steller Jay Creative Arts is opening a brand new creative space and you’re invited to the open house! This new studio space, run and designed by artist and educator, Jay Carlton, is committed to educational support, for both typical and neurodiverse learners, along with being a mixed media art studio, focused on enriching the creative worlds of Central Oregon’s youth. Multiple, free and fully equipped stop motion animation stations will be available for both kids and adults to experiment with. Friday from 5 - 6:30 PM 369 NE Revere Ave.

📸 @bendzinelibrary |📍Dudley’s Bookshop
Tag @thebendbuzz to get your photos featured!

Basecamp Adventures is a community-based summer social recreation program created for neurodivergent individuals and those with adaptive needs who want to build connection, confidence, and independence.

Through small-group outings and guided experiences, participants explore activities like hiking, climbing, paddleboarding, art, and more, all with the support they need to feel comfortable and included. Each adventure is designed to meet participants where they are, while encouraging growth, social connection, and a sense of belonging.

Pricing is offered on a sliding scale, and Basecamp currently accepts OHP, PacificSource, and FSA, with plans to expand to additional providers.

If you’re looking for a supportive, structured summer camp program rooted in inclusion and real-world experiences, learn more at basecampadvocacy.com/advocacyadventures.

🎭 Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet: The Greenhouse Cabaret is kicking off their series of performances of Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet. Opening night is already sold out, but there are still tickets available as the shows run through May 2nd. Don’t dilly dally, though, as tickets are going fast. 7:30 PM Greenhouse Cabaret

🎉 Party in the Peace Park: Mt. Bachelor throws an end-of-season party in the Peace Park terrain area. Spring snow, good vibes, and the bittersweet feeling of a ski season winding down. 11 AM Mt. Bachelor

🌙 Moonlight Dinner Series: A candlelit dinner up at Pine Marten Lodge with mountain views and that magic golden hour light. 4 PM Pine Marten Lodge

🐴 High Desert Stampede: Couldn’t make the stampede on the first two days of action? Have no fear, as there are still two days left to take in this Central Oregon classic. Friday & Saturday Deschutes County Fairgrounds

📺 90's Trivia Night: Dust off your Spice Girls knowledge and your Tamagotchi trauma—it's 90s trivia at The Haven Coworking and it's going to get competitive. 5 PM The Haven Coworking

🎤 90's Night at Volcanic: From grunge to boy bands to whatever Mambo No. 5 was — Volcanic Theatre Pub goes full 90s for a Friday night that'll have you screaming every word. 7 PM Volcanic Theatre Pub

🥙 Kitchen Takeover: Join chef Cerstin Cheatham at Bleu Bite Catering for a hands-on appetizer party. You’ll get guided cooking instruction, live demos, and, of course, plenty of tasty bites. 5:30 PM Bleu Bite Catering

😂 Next Stop Comedy: Stand-up comedy at Bridge 99 Brewery—laughs, beer, and a laid-back Friday night energy that's hard to beat. 7:30 PM Bridge 99

💋 Sexy Talk Comedy Show: Craft Kitchen gets a little cheeky with a comedy show that goes there. Gather your most game friends and prepare to cackle. 8 PM Craft Kitchen

🎨 Art Night for Kids: Want to enjoy First Friday without the kids saying “I’m bored” every 30 seconds? Drop them off at the Tea + Art Lounge, where they’ll enjoy an evening of art and creativity while you enjoy some free sips in peace. 5 PM Bend Tea + Art Lounge

🐍 The Snake-Run Rally: A grassroots banked slalom snowboard event with a hand-dug course built for pure fun. Race, rip, and ride alongside some of the best Northwest riders around in one of the most community-driven events of the season. 9 AM Mt. Bachelor

🐱 Cats on Mats: Yoga at the Playful Paws Cat Cafe, because practicing your downward dog surrounded by cats is just objectively better. 9:30 AM Playful Paws Cat Cafe

🌈 Drag Brunch & Pride Prom: UPP Liquids serves up drag performances, brunch, and full prom energy all in one glorious afternoon. Dust off your corsage and come ready to dance. 12 PM UPP Liquids

🐆 Save the Endangered Cheetah: Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, comes to Embark for an evening on one of the world's most endangered big cats. Fascinating, important, and not your average Saturday night talk. 4:30 PM Embark

🦌 Backcountry Brew: Join a crew of outdoor enthusiasts for a morning of coffee and discussion about everything hunting, fishing, conservation, and more. 9 AM Commons Cafe

📚 Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton: The Central Oregon author brings her newest novel to Roundabout Books for a launch event worth showing up for. Grab a signed copy and stay for the conversation. 5:30 PM Roundabout Books & Cafe

🦃 Turn Up for Turkey: Turkey, the beloved local sound guy Cory's dog, needs surgery to remove a benign tumor, and the Bend music community is showing up in the best possible way. Thoughtbox, Billy and the Box Kid, Jackrat, and the legendary James G all take the stage for an epic night of music and community love. 8 PM The Domino Room

🌲 Silent Hunter: See how quietly you can sneak through the usually-kinda-crunchy understory at Shevlin Park. New Friends Bend is playing host to this wild stealth game. 1 PM Shevlin Park

🍳 Easter Brunch Grand Buffet: Go big on Easter Sunday with a grand buffet brunch at the Riverhouse Convention Center. The kind of spread that justifies wearing your Sunday best. 10 AM Riverhouse Convention Center

👗 Thrifts Pop-up: The Sunday thrift pop-up is back at UPP Liquids. One person's Easter castoff is your next favorite find. 11 AM UPP Liquids

🦅 Queer as Flock Bird Walk: The forests are waking up with the warmer weather, so grab your favorite birding binocs and enjoy a quiet walk through the forest looking for our favorite feathered friends. 9 AM Shevlin Park

🏐 Adult Volleyball: See if you’ve still got it with some bumping, setting, and spiking at this weekly adult volleyball meetup at Bend Hoops. 7 PM Bend Hoops

🧺 Basket Coiling Class: Learn how to weave your own raffia basket from start to finish with this guided class at Freak’n Art. 10 AM Freak’n Art

🧠 Sunday Funday Trivia: Gather your crew and head over to River’s Place for an afternoon of trivia from Useless Knowledge Bowl. 12 PM River’s Place

The Mage Lights | The Ale Apothecary | 6 PM 
Joanna Lee | Portello Lounge | 6:30 PM
Chris Beland | Currents | 7 PM
Clark Engine Company | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Brass Jaguar | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Green Jelly | The Domino Room | 8 PM | Tickets

James Townsend | Austin Mercantile | 5 PM
Pete Kartsounes | Portello Lounge | 6:30 PM
Not.Greenday | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 7 PM | Tickets 
JuJu Eyeball | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM

Shineola | The Commonwealth Pub | 4 PM
Lickety Split | River’s Place | 5 PM

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

Have an event you want to feature or want to advertise your business to our 17,000+ readers in Bend? Drop us a line here → [email protected]