🥶 So long, tomatoes

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! Well, it got downright chilly last night! I guess this is farewell to gardening season.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

• 🤸 New indoor sports facility underway

• 🙋 Volunteer at the Faire

• 🚵 Bachelor finishes up their summer operations

Let’s get to it.

— Emily Randolph & Derek Carlson

SPONSORED BY RYAN WALKER STATE FARM

🍁 Fall Into Protection 🍂

Cooler mornings. Golden afternoons. That unmistakable Bend breeze.
Fall is here, and it’s the perfect time to make sure you’re protected for the season ahead.

At Ryan Walker State Farm, we help you protect what matters most through every chapter — home, auto, life, and beyond.

📞 Call us at 541-640-8080 or visit mybendinsurance.com to set up a meeting or get a quote today.

✨ Protect the good life. Always. ✨

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SNAPSHOTS

🙋 Teen Volunteers Wanted for Autumn Family Faire

Have a teen who needs to build up some volunteer hours for those college applications? Or maybe they just want to help out at a fun local event? Camp Fire Co. is looking for volunteers (both teens and adults) for their upcoming Autumn Family Faire on October 18th. Shifts include setup, running games and activities, and tear down at the end of the day.

⛷️ Help Get Meissner Ready for Ski Season

It won’t be long before there is snow on more than just the tippy top peaks surrounding Bend. If you enjoy the endless trails at Meissner by skinny ski or snowshoe, consider helping out as they prep the trails for the upcoming season. The Meissner Nordic crew has six trail work parties planned for this month (I’ve done these in the past and they are pretty fun!). They involve grabbing a pair of clippers, heading out to that day’s designated trail, and trimming back the snowbrush or anything else growing where it shouldn’t be.

🚵‍♀️ Mt Bachelor Wraps up the Summer Season

Keeping with the theme of changing seasons, Mt. Bachelor wrapped up the summer season over the weekend. That means that mountain biking, zip lining, and scenic lift rides are done until next year. Don’t look now, but the forecast may bring snow sooner rather than later and officially usher in the start of winter (at least in the mountains).

BUSINESS HAPPENINGS

💊 Rite Aid reopens as CVS: A while back, we shared the news that the Rite Aid on the north side of town would be reopening as a CVS. Well, that transition has officially taken place, with more permanent signage to come soon. CVS has stated that all Rite Aid pharmacy customers will have their information transferred over automatically.

🤸 A huge new indoor kids’ sports center breaks ground: Bailey’s Sports, the team behind Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy (fun fact, there’s a good chance that each Friday's newsletter was at least partially written from the upstairs parent hangout area at COGA), has broken ground on a massive new indoor sports complex on the north side of town just across the street from Trader Joes. Phase one of the project (opening fall of 2026) will be a 45,000+ sq ft multi-sport facility that will expand their gymnastics offerings, as well as an 8,000+ sq ft indoor skate park. Phase two will include a buildout of a 22,000+ sq ft indoor skate park and ninja warrior training facility. You can follow along with the progress here.

@THEBENDBUZZ

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TOGETHER WITH FALLING LEAF TREE CARE

Get Your Trees Winter-Ready 🌲❄️
Before winter storms roll in, now’s the time to make sure your landscape is ready. Falling Leaf Tree Care can help prevent damage to your home by pruning overgrown branches while keeping trees healthy and balanced through the colder months. Proper pruning not only protects your home and roof but also keeps your landscape looking its best all year long.

Owner and arborist Scott specializes in personalized, small-scale jobs with care and precision. He has openings this month and next—so if winter prep items are on your to-do list, now’s the time to book.

📞 Call or text Scott at (541) 241-6239 to schedule a free estimate.

🌐 Falling Leaf Tree Care, LLC
📃 CCB# 235548 
📧 [email protected]

LOCAL LOWDOWN

Monday 10.6

🍂 Fall Tinkergarten: Let the kiddos get messy, curious, and totally immersed in nature at this seasonal outdoor learning session. Through play-based exploration, they’ll build confidence, creativity, and a love for the changing world around them. 11 AM Tumalo State Park

🍷 Fall Chef’s Pairing Experience: Indulge in a seasonal feast at Willamette Valley Vineyards. Thoughtfully crafted pairings bring together local flavors and wines in one unforgettable meal. 5 PM Willamette Valley Vineyards

📚 Fall into OBOB Series: Young readers, get ready for an adventure! This Zoom session dives into Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, sparking curiosity and teamwork through the beloved OBOB program. 5 PM via Zoom

🗣️ Clases de Inglés: Practice English in a friendly, supportive environment. Perfect for all levels, this weekly gathering helps build confidence and connection. 6 PM Downtown Bend Library

🌇 Sunset Sanctuary: Cozy up as the sun dips with a restorative blend of yoga, breathwork, and sauna in a peaceful setting. Let the evening calm your body, spirit, and mind. 6 PM Gather Sauna

🍻 Natural History Pub: Sip a pint while learning something new at McMenamins. This monthly talk blends science, stories, and community for a fun and fascinating evening. 7 PM McMenamins

🤸 Intro to Partner Acro: Bring a partner for this beginner-friendly partner-acro series at Tula. 6 PM Tula Movement Arts

Tuesday 10.7

👂 Lunch & Learn: Hearing Loss: Grab your lunch and get informed: this session explores causes, mitigation, and solutions for hearing loss. Great info, whether it’s for yourself, family, or friends. 12 PM Larkspur Community Center

📖 Ladies Book Swap & Meetup: Trade your favorite reads and discover new gems with fellow book lovers. A cozy, social evening fueled by stories and community. 6 PM Bridge 99

🏙️ Bend 101: Growth in Bend: Curious about how Bend is changing? This talk digs into growth, planning, and what the future holds for our city. 5 PM OSU Cascades

👻 Whistling Past the Graveyard: Just in time for spooky season, this Zoom session explores haunting history and eerie tales. A fun, chilling way to spend the evening. 6 PM via Zoom

🏌️ Tetherow Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament: Come support Sara’s Project, which provides education, early detection, and support services to ease the challenges of breast cancer for people in Central Oregon, with this fundraiser golf tournament at Tetherow. 8 AM Tetherow

🚲 Moving the Needle on Bike Ridership in Bend: Join a community forum on how to boost bike use in Bend—think infrastructure, safety, and equity. Whether you ride daily or just care about getting around better, your voice should be in the mix. 6 PM East Bend Library

🧑‍💻 What the Tech: The monthly What the Tech meetup has moved! Come hang with fellow workers and enthusiasts of all things tech at Crux for this low-key meetup. 5:30 PM Crux

LIVE MUSIC

Monday 10.6

Bluegrass Collective | Silver Moon | 7 PM
Doom Gong & Serpentfoot | The Domino Room | 7:30 PM | Tickets

Tuesday 10.7

Lena Rich & Talia Keys | Silver Moon | 6:30 PM | Tickets
Single Malt Jazz | The Commonwealth Pub | 7 PM
Noam Pikelny & Friends | Tower Theatre | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Elton Dan | Volcanic Theatre Pub | 8 PM | Tickets

WEEKEND PREVIEW

Bend film festival!

✨ Friday is a feast for the senses. Fans of film are in for a treat as the Bend Film Fest runs all weekend long. Bookworms can kick off the morning at Roundabout Books with the Nonfiction Book Club, while adventurers head into the forest for a Fungi Foray at Sunriver Nature Center or stroll Drake Park for Stories & Strollers. Later, savor mushroom-forward cuisine at the Fungi Fest Wild Woodsman Dinner. Find your balance at the Bend to Balance mental health expo & experience. Get creative at Freak’n Art’s Watercolor Pencil Demo Night, while witches gather at Hanai for a cozy Practical Magic Movie Party. 

🍂 Saturday brings a mix of family fun and spooky season vibes. Start your day with Cats on Mats at the Playful Paws Cat Café for yoga with whiskered company, or head to Century Center for a lively Family Block Party full of games, food, and music. In the afternoon, get hands-on at Tumalo Lavender with a Ceramic Ghosts & Lanterns workshop. As the sun sets, wander through the Bend Moonlight Haunted Market at Silver Moon, where eerie art and local goods await. For those looking to go all out, Hanai’s Haunted Masquerade Ball promises a night of mystery, dancing, and revelry under the mask.

🍻 Sunday is about giving back, slowing down, and celebrating community. Begin with the Caldera Clean Up with Wanderlust Tours, then tap into tradition with Pine Needle Basket Weaving—a meditative craft class that connects past and present. At Riverbend Park, join the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, a moving show of solidarity and hope. Later, indulge your curiosity at Juniper Preserve with the Plant Magic Pairings Workshop, blending ancient botanicals into a modern tasting experience.

🎶 Live Music: From soulful crooners to dance-floor shakers, this weekend is packed with sound. Catch the powerhouse voice of Marc Broussard at The Oxford, jam with Jeff Crosby Band or Huntley & Guests at Silver Moon, and dive into the wild energy of the Sploinky Rave at Midtown Ballroom. Jam-band fans will want Shafty’s set at The Domino Room, while Sunday’s reggae groove flows with Mike Pinto & Coloso. Wherever you land, Bend’s stages have the weekend covered.

THANKS!

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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