TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I’ve got a good one for you today as this is a popular weekend for spring events.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

A More Balanced Start to the Year in Bend

It’s the first day of a new month, which means it’s time to start watching how the April numbers take shape.

So far, one trend continues to stand out: the Bend market feels more balanced than it has in quite a while.

Seller activity took a small step back this past month, while buyer activity continued at a steady and consistent pace. That shift may not sound dramatic, but after the last few years of uneven movement between buyers and sellers, it matters.

As for prices, Bend’s median home price is expected to land right around where it has hovered for most of the year. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it jump next month depending on which price points buyers become most active in. As always, who is buying can change that number just as much as what is happening with home values themselves.

Overall, 2025 is shaping up to be a healthier market environment. Buyers have more breathing room, sellers still have opportunity, and the extremes we saw over the last few years continue to soften.

If you’ve been trying to make sense of where the market is headed, I’m always happy to share what I’m seeing behind the numbers. No pressure, just perspective.

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Bend’s newest farmer’s market, Elevation Farmers Market, is kicking off with a party on Friday. The Bend Factory Stores are also rebranding to Elevation Bend, so everything is getting combined into one big celebration. There will be live music, dancing, a community mural, vendors, and local farmers and ranchers. The farmers market will take place every Friday afternoon from 3 - 7 PM. Friday 3 - 7 PM at 61334 S Hwy 97

First Friday is back and the weather is looking nice! Along with the usual first Friday fun (3 - 6 PM at the Old Mill and 5 - 8 PM downtown), the city will also be hosting CityFest in the Lift Fitness Studio parking lot. There you can find live music, a hands-on community art project, a brief State of the City update, and a chance to connect with the people shaping Bend’s future. Also, make sure to swing by the Commons as their monthly block party is returning (6 - 8 PM) with live music from the Bill Powers Old Growth Band.

Your days of hoofing it to the top of Pilot Butte to catch the sunset are over as the road to the top of our favorite local butte reopens today at 10 AM. The gate will be open from 10 AM - Dusk daily so that gives plenty of time for you morning hikers, runners, and bikers to still enjoy a little car-free activity.

🍖 Runaround Sue BBQ officially opens: More good news for the Galveston corridor as Runaround Sue BBQ officially opens for business today, May 1st. The food looked mighty tasty at their soft opening launch last week, and I’m excited to try it out! The boots of slushy margaritas will fill in the much needed frozen drink gap left by Boss Rambler’s departure earlier this year. They’ll be open Wed-Sun from 11 AM - 10 PM.

👼 Broken Angel 10 year anniversary party: The folks behind A Broken Angel food truck are celebrating 10 years of serving up tasty vegan food in Bend with a party. Make your way out to Harmony Farms Sanctuary on Sunday from 4-6 PM for an evening of farm tours, frito pies, cake, and a chance to gather around the fire pits.

We’re not the only ones clearing out our garages this spring as there are a quartet of local businesses also offering some sweet deals this weekend on gear for winter, your pups, the outdoors, and your dining table.

🐾 Ruffwear Spring warehouse sale: Ruffwear opens up for their spring warehouse sale, and your dog is going to be very well dressed by the end of it. Gear up for the outdoor season ahead. Friday & Saturday from 11 AM - 4 PM Ruffwear HQ

🎿 Between Evergreens parking lot sale: Only 7 months until the mountain opens again for skiing! Start building that winter stoke by scoring some sweet savings on skis, boots, bindings, mittens, and more. Saturday from 10 AM - 6 PM Between Evergreens

🥾 Luno camping gear garage sale: In line for the Ruffwear sale? Then you’re in the right place to score some deals on camping gear from Luno. Most items will be name your own price so come ready to bargain. Friday & Saturday from 10 AM - 3 PM Luno

🏺 Camp Clay seconds sale: Last, but certainly not least (based on the crowds this event usually draws), prepare to score some savings on Camp Clay pottery pieces. Saturday from 9 AM - 1 PM Camp Clay

📸 @alexsreininger |📍Bend
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Give the gift of a tidy home

This year, skip the flowers that wilt and give Mom something she'll actually use: a genuinely tidy home. The Avenue pairs professional decluttering with simple, sustainable systems so the results actually last. Constance is a certified Professional Declutterer™ serving Central Oregon, and she'll work with your mom (or with you, as a gift) to create a home that finally feels the way it should.

It's the most thoughtful gift on the list. We promise she's been thinking about it too.

Get started at theavenue.us →

🏡 Spring Home & Garden Show: Come browse the services and goods from over 200 vendors who will be showing off all things home and garden related. Friday - Sunday Deschutes County Fairgrounds

🥕 HDFFA Local Food Guide Launch: Join HDFFA at Bend Brewing for the launch of their annual local food guide. The guide is a go-to resource for all things local food including grocers, farms, eateries, and food producers. 5 - 8 PM Bend Brewing Co

🛼 Friday Night Roller Dance: Lace up your skates and hit the floor at The Pavilion for a Friday night roller dance. Groovy, nostalgic, and genuinely one of the more fun ways to kick off a weekend. 7:30 PM The Pavilion

🎭 Telltale Presents: Ride or Die, Darling: Telltale brings a fresh show to Craft Kitchen with an evening of storytelling, performance, and the kind of energy that makes you glad you went out. 8 PM Craft Kitchen

🪅 Cinco de Mayo Party: The Capitol is kicking off Cinco de Mayo weekend early and hard. Think festive, loud, and absolutely no regrets on a Friday night. Get there, get dancing, leave happy. 9 PM The Capitol

🌱 Spring Sip & Shop: Kick off the start of spring market season with an evening of beverages and local vendors. 5:30 PM Fox & Fern

🕯 Liminal Library: The Liminal Library is a slow, open-house–style First Friday at Pine & Prism — a space to wander, explore, and follow what draws you in. 5 - 8 PM Pine & Prism Wellness Collective

🌳 Bend Tree Project: The city is taking inventory of Bend’s trees, and they need your help! Come join one of their volunteer info sessions (happening both Saturday and Sunday) where they will teach you how to identify and evaluate trees. 10 AM - 3 PM City Hall

🎪 Spring Festival: Join Bend Leadership Academy and Maverick Outdoors for a kid-friendly spring festival. There will be activities for the kiddos along with food, coffee, facepainting, and a fun lineup of local businesses focused on kids, movement, the outdoors, and wellness. 11 AM Bend Leadership Academy (21555 Modoc Ln)

🥐 Maison Kokoro popup: Bend’s newest bakery is hosting a series of pop-ups all month long at Pika Pika. Come try their tasty treats and enjoy an ube muffin on the house. 11 AM Pika Pika

🚵‍♀ International Women’s MTB Day: The west side trails are in primo condition. Join the ladies of COTA for a ride to celebrate women on bikes. All skill levels welcome. 11 AM Lower Whoops

🚼 Free Toddler Clothing Swap: Have some unused toddles clothes or need some for your growing wobbler? Head to the Redmond Library for a free clothing swap. No advanced registration required. 2 PM Redmond Public Library

🍺 Bend Beer Chase: A relay race through Bend that ends with beer, which is honestly the only way a race should end. Start at Drake Park and chase the beer through central Oregon! 7 AM Drake Park

🚵 FootZone Dirty Half Training/Preview Run: Get a taste of the Dirty Half course with a 10-mile preview run from Phil's Trailhead. There will be demo shoes from HOKA and post run refreshments. 8 AM Phil's Trailhead

💛 Golden: A K-Pop Kids Party: A K-Pop dance party for the little ones (and their adults!). Pure joy, great music, and very enthusiastic tiny fans. 11 AM The Domino Room

🐴 Stirrup Purpose Kentucky Derby Fundraiser: Sip mint juleps and bet on your favorite horse at The Commonwealth Pub while supporting Stirrup Purpose, an equine therapy nonprofit. The Derby has never felt this good. 1 PM The Commonwealth Pub

🌿 Firewise Native Plant Gardening in Central Oregon: Learn how to landscape with fire in mind using native plants. Practical, beautiful, and genuinely important in Central Oregon's fire-prone landscape. 3 PM Worthy Brewing

🐳 Family Night - Fused Glass Workshop: Bring the whole family for an evening of art where each participant will create their own nightlight or sun catcher. 4 PM Two Suns Art Studio

🎉 VRCCO Block Party: Ponch’s Place is throwing a block party featuring coffee from Lone Pine, a bouncy house, a dog zone, and crafts. 11 AM Ponch’s Place

📚 A Novel Idea: Author Thomas Kohnstamm: The grand finale of Oregon's largest community read program. Kohnstamm's novel Supersonic charts the rise of a boomtown city in the American West where ambition outpaces memory—a multi-generational story that hits a little close to home for anyone watching Bend grow in real time. 4 PM Summit High School

🌸 Fresh Finds Market at Juniper Preserve: A curated outdoor market at one of Central Oregon's most beautiful venues. A perfect weekend browse to welcome spring. 11 AM Juniper Preserve

🛍️ Mother's Day Makers Market: Local makers bring their best to UPP Liquids for a Mother's Day market worth shopping. Find something she'll actually love. 3 PM UPP Liquids

🍽 Thrown Together Dinner: Finish up the weekend with one of the most unique dinner parties in town. Here you’ll enjoy a four course meal featuring local grown produce which will be served on a four piece serving set made by the artists at Mud Lake Studios. And the best part, the pottery is yours to keep at the end of the night. Make sure to click through Mud Lake Studio’s IG account for a sneak peak of the pottery sets that will be available to choose from. 5:30 PM Mud Lake Studios

🫖 Mother's Day Tea at Tetherow: Tetherow Resort hosts an elegant afternoon tea benefiting Partners in Care. Treat your mom, or yourself, to something genuinely lovely. 2 PM Tetherow Resort

⭐ May the 4th Be With You: Star Wars Burlesque: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... nobody expected burlesque. And yet here we are, and it's going to be spectacular. Silver Moon goes full Star Wars for a Sunday night that's out of this world. 7 PM Silver Moon

🧖 End of River Season Sauna Party: It is time to say goodbye to Gather Sauna for the season at their Riverbend location. Enjoy discounted sauna sessions, a group SUP, raffles, and more! Riverbend Park 1 PM

Piña Colada | HOLA! Downtown | 6:30 PM
Low Tide Ritual | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
El Ten Eleven | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 7 PM | Tickets
Scott Pemberton | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Bella Emry | Portello Lounge | 7 PM | Tickets
Abbey Road | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets 
Floater | Midtown Ballroom | 8 PM | Tickets
Bigfoot County | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM
The Raucous | M&J Tavern | 9 PM

Gathering | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Drifting Roots | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Fleetwood Mask | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets
The Substitutes | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM
Ghost Fetish | The Commonwealth Pub | 10:30 PM

The Okee Dokee Brothers | Tower Theatre | 11 AM | Tickets
Trifecta | The Commonwealth Pub | 4 PM
Good Trouble | Northside Bar & Grill | 6 PM
Whitey Morgan and the 78s | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 7 PM | Tickets

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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