🪩 NYE Celebrations in Bend

NYE party roundup, Bachelor finally opens, and the year in review at the Bend Buzz

Author

Derek Carlson
December 29, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! I hope everyone had a great week last week. I’m finally getting up off the couch and brushing the cookie crumbs off my shirt.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

  • 🪩 NYE party roundup

  • ⛷️ Bachelor finally opens

  • 🔢 Year in review at the Bend Buzz

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro

From Indigenous art to wildlife encounters to the secrets of soil, the High Desert Museum is packed with wonder during winter break! Discover the hidden world beneath our feet in the exhibition Soil Alive! Explore how advertising influenced the West in the exhibition Drawn West: A History of Promoting Place. Walk the outdoor trails, discover the Ponderosa Playscape, and see a porcupine or otter up close. Make today a museum day! See you soon!

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SNAPSHOTS

⛷️ Bachelor Finally Opens for the Year

We only sent one email last week, and a bunch of news just happened to drop right after we hit publish and transitioned from writing to cookie eating for the week. One of the biggest pieces of news is something I’m sure every one of you already knows: Bachelor has finally opened for the 2025/26 season. They’ve got some fun events coming up that we’ll be sure to highlight in the newsletter (including Luminaria on New Year’s Eve).

🚧 Franklin Ave Construction is Done

Folks who have been avoiding Franklin Ave over the last couple of months because of construction can return to their old routes as the street is fully open. Construction finished up last week, so now all you west siders can safely make your way over to El Sancho again.

🚌 Take the Bus to Meissner

In the fall, we shared that, after a false start last year, bus service to Meissner would launch this season. While the weather hasn’t exactly been cooperative so far, things are finally taking a turn for the better, and the service should start running later this week. Want to hitch a ride? Just book a spot online for one of the 3x daily runs that leave from the Park & Float lot next to the Pavilion. It only costs $5!

🔢 2025 Year in Review at the Bend Buzz

Welcome to the (almost) end of 2025! Thank you to everyone who has subscribed, read, shared, and helped support the Bend Buzz over the past year! Here’s a little behind-the-scenes peek at some numbers behind the newsletter for 2025.

Over the past year, the Bend Buzz has grown from 6,000 subscribers to over 16,000(!!!). Along the way, we’ve written 220,000 words and sent out 137 emails, which were opened a combined 1.8 million times. You all clicked links in the emails 117,600 times, with the top five most popular clicks being the meal picker (1,249 clicks), Best of Central Oregon results (1,106), Bend pizza week (793), Manzanita Ridge Park opening (744), and the $30 tickets to summer promotion at the amphitheater (534).

Thanks again, and we can’t wait to see what 2026 brings!

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

☕️ Thump and Backporch Coffee join forces: Some big news in the Bend coffee world dropped last week as it was announced that, come January 1st, Thump and Backporch Coffee would merge. Don't worry if you are a devoted fan of either brand; the companies have stated that consumers won’t see any changes, as both brands will remain as is.

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TOGETHER WITH RALLY RECREATION

Come celebrate the New Year with a night of fun and connection! Rally Recreation offers a welcoming space to gather, unplug and create memories through classic game play. Perfect for couples, groups of friends, and anyone who enjoys bar games without the bar scene. Now offering beer, wine and cider, extended weekend hours-- and an abundance of free parking!

Take a break to unwind, sign up for a league to improve your skills, and become a member to create a community! Visit rallyrecreation.com for information on current membership promotions, hosting a party or fundraiser, and registering for leagues. Our ping-pong league starts January 6th — dust off your paddle and sign up today!

Follow us on Instagram @rallyrecreation to learn about monthly themed nights and special events.

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 12.29

🦶 Let’s Play Footsie: A playful, grounding movement class focused on foot health, balance, and connection from the ground up. Perfect if you’re on your feet all day—or just want to feel better in your body. 7 PM Namaspa

🎤 Fred Armisen: Comedy for Musicians (But Everyone Is Welcome): The Portland icon brings his hilariously niche (yet universally funny) comedy to Bend for one night only. Expect music jokes, deadpan brilliance, and plenty of “oh wow, that’s accurate” moments. 8 PM Midtown Ballroom

🏒 Adult Pick-Up Hockey: Lace up for a casual, all-levels skate with fellow hockey lovers. No pressure, just good ice time and solid community vibes. 8:15 PM The Pavilion

⛸️ Holiday Skate: Strap on the skates and hit the ice at the Pavilion’s holiday skate time. Can’t make it today? Skating happens every day (including New Year’s Day) this week. 9 AM The Pavilion

🙋 Bingo with Bren: Family still hanging around, and you need to get them out of the house? How about a little bingo for a good cause at Bevel Brewing? 6 PM Bevel Brewing

Tuesday 12.30

🎨 Open Art Tuesday: Drop in, get creative, and make art your way. Open studio vibes with space to experiment, connect, and create alongside fellow artists (or people who want to be). 6 PM Open Arts Center

❄️ Hoodoo Wintervention: Kick off winter with Hoodoo-style fun—think snow stoke, giveaways, community hangs, and all the reasons to get excited for the mountain to open. The prizes are no joke! 6 PM Sunriver East

🧘 End-of-Year Reflection & Gratitude Meditation: Slow down and reset with a guided meditation focused on reflection, gratitude, and intentional closure as the year winds down. 7 PM Pine & Prism Wellness

🧠 Trivia Tuesday: Put your brain to the test (it’ll be good for you after guzzling eggnog all last week) at Bunk + Brew’s Tuesday night trivia. 7 PM Bunk + Brew

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 12.29

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM
Five Pint Mary | McMenamin’s | 7 PM

Tuesday 12.30

Michelle Van Handel | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM
Aladinsane | Mcmenamin’s | 7 PM

WEEKEND NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY PREVIEW

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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