TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Bend! And good luck to all the Pole Pedal Paddlers out there! I hope you shoe laces stay tied, tires stay inflated, and after-race beverages are frosty.

In today’s Bend Buzz:

Let’s get to it.

— Derek Carlson & Emily Elaro 

Lower Rates Are Helping More Buyers Get Into Homes

One of the biggest changes we’ve seen this year is that more buyers under the $500K price range are finally able to use financing again. That shift is also a big reason why Bend’s median sale price has been running lower to start the year compared to last spring.

Last year, many buyers in that price range were still struggling with affordability. This year, improved mortgage rates and continued negotiating opportunities are helping more everyday buyers make the numbers work. What’s especially interesting is that cash buyers really haven’t changed much. The growth is mostly coming from financed buyers stepping back into the market.

Does that mean buying a home is suddenly easy? No. But it does mean some buyers who felt stuck over the last few years are finally starting to see a path forward again.

☕ If you’ve been wondering whether buying is becoming possible again, now might be a good time to start asking questions. Sometimes the best opportunities happen before everyone else realizes the market is changing.

📞 541-316-8025
🌐 abrestate.com

🏡 Featured Listing: Looking for space under $500K? Check out this Bend home sitting on nearly a third of an acre with room to spread out, garden, entertain, or simply enjoy a little extra breathing room.

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Concert season is officially here as the Hayden Homes Amphitheater opens its doors for the first show of the season on Saturday evening. Kicking off the 2026 slate will be comedian John Mulaney with guests Fred Armisen and Mike Birbiglia. The music portion of the concert season gets underway next week with Brandi Carlile on May 20th and 21st.

Bend’s most iconic race hits the mountain, trails, road, and river on Saturday as the Pole Pedal Paddle is back for its 50th year(!!!). This year’s course will look a little different, as the lack of snow means the ski legs have been turned into running legs on the mountain. If you can, please try to avoid the Cascade Lakes Highway in the morning as bikers will be making their way down from the mountain.

👗 The Sainted Grand Opening: Bend has a new clothing consignment store, and they are throwing a grand opening party on Sunday to show off the space. Swing by The Sainted at 1404 NE 3rd St on Sunday from 11 AM - 5 PM to check out the space and enjoy a matcha from Matcha.Bar.

📚 Dudley’s Bookshop opens at the Old Mill: Big news for local bookshop fans as Dudley’s Bookshop is officially opening the doors today (Friday) to their brand spanking new Old Mill location. Fan of the downtown location? Fear not, as that one will remain open as well. So swing by, pick out a new summer read, and enjoy it as you float down the river.

🌶 Top Hat Spice Shop Grand Opening: Another Old Mill shop is celebrating this weekend as Top Hat Spice Shop is holding a grand opening to celebrate their new name (formerly Savory Spice Shop). The new name reflects the company’s new direction (don’t worry, though, as they’ll still be carrying all your favorite spices). The party takes place on Saturday from 11 AM - 4 PM.

🍖 Roman’s Island BBQ opens on the east side: Roman’s Island BBQ, a bbq/asian food truck, is celebrating its grand opening at Monkless’s Abbey location off of Wilson Ave. They’ll be open Friday and Saturday from 3 - 8 PM and serving up ribs, pulled pork, sweet & sour pork belly burnt ends, and smoked wings.

🎉 Waypoint celebrates 5 years: And to round out a very full weekend of grand openings and anniversary celebrations, Waypoint at The Grove is celebrating 5 years of serving up tasty beverages. They’ll have live music on Friday and Saturday, along with balloons and cupcakes.

📸 @theaccidentaloregonian |📍Cascade Lakes Highway
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SafeSplash Swim School is hiring

Bend's newest swim school is opening this August, and they're building their team now. SafeSplash Swim School on Bend's north side is looking for passionate swim instructors who love working with people of all ages and skill levels, from babies to adults.

No prior teaching experience required. If you're enthusiastic, dependable, and love working with people of all ages, SafeSplash will train and certify you. Competitive pay, a brand new facility, and the chance to be part of something new in Bend from day one.

🎻 High Desert Chamber Music Celebrity Recital: Join High Desert Chamber Music as they host a celebrity recital welcoming back legendary cellist Peter Wiley and brilliant Steinway Artist Anna Polonsky. 7:30 PM Unitarian Universalist

🎭 Newsies: It’s weekend #2 for Caldera High’s performance of Newsies. Catch the show before its gone! 7 PM (two shows on Saturday as well) Caldera High School

🎭 The Secret Garden: While we’ve got the theatre on our mind, check out weekend #2 of The Secret Garden by BEAT Children’s Theatre. 7 PM (additional performances on Saturday & Sunday) Open Space Event Studios

🎪 Cirque Italia: Be amazed as acrobats take to the air at this water-themed show at the fairgrounds. 7:30 PM Deschutes County Expo Center

🌾 Elevation Farmers Market: The new weekly farmers market at Elevation Bend is back for another Friday. Fresh produce, local vendors, and a great reason to stop by the newly revamped shopping district. 3 PM Elevation Bend

🐶 Page to Screen: Dog Man: The Tower Theatre brings Dog Man to the big screen for a family night that'll have the kids losing their minds with excitement. 6 PM Tower Theatre

🍹 The Stray Bar Pop-up at The Pantry: The Pantry has got your Friday evening plans dialed as they’re bringing in The Stray Bar, a mobile cocktail bar, along with tunes from Elija Alaka, and live portrait painting by the Artsy Adventurist. 5 PM The Pantry

🚚 Truck Time at Skylark: Bring the kiddos to Skylark Academy, where they can get an up-close look at trucks of all sizes. 9:30 - 11:30 AM Skylark Academy

🐣 Baby Farm Animal Tour: Were you really hoping you would get to bottle feed a baby goat this weekend? Kind of a weird thing to be hoping for, but we won’t judge. We will let you know that you’re in luck, though, as Firefly Fields is hosting farm tours featuring their baby farm animals (and yes, bottle feeding a goat is included). 9 AM - 12 PM (Saturday & Sunday) Firefly Fields NW

⚙ Children’s Museum Popup: Baby goats not your jam? How about letting the littles build, create, and get their wiggles out at the Children’s Museum popup? 9 AM - 3 PM (Saturday & Sunday) Deschutes County Expo Center

🚲 Saturday Social Ride: Join the Bend Bikes crew for a low-key social ride through town. 3:15 PM Pineridge Park

🌱 Maifest: As Justin Timberlake once said - it’s gonna be May. Celebrate the arrival of our shortest month (only 3 letters!) at Maifest at Worthy Brewing. There will be live music, activities for the kids, and plenty of beverages to go around. 1 - 9 PM Worthy Brewing

🖼 The Best Fine Art Sale Ever!: Walls looking a little bare lately? Check out the offerings at Tumalo Art Co’s Best Fine Art Sale Ever! 9 AM - 3 PM Grace First Lutheran Church

🎶 Central Oregon Symphony Spring Concert: Experience an unforgettable evening of brass chamber music featuring the virtuosic 27th St. Brass Quintet and the acclaimed Oregon Brass Quintet. 2 & 7:30 PM (and 2 PM on Sunday) Mountain View High School

🧘‍♀ Strong n' Sweet Yogalates: Yoga in the park season is back! Join Haleigh Smith for a morning sesh of Yolalates (that’s yoga + pilates - not yoga + lattes 😥), all set to a Sabrina Carpenter playlist. 10 AM Pioneer Park

💧 Drip Irrigation Workshop: Learn how you can save water and still keep your plants happy by converting from overhead watering to drip irrigation. 8:30 AM Franklin’s Corner Community Garden

🎶 Cascade Chorale Sing the Pops: These concerts are always a crowd favorite and, lucky for you, there are two days to choose from. 7 PM (and 3 PM on Sunday) First Presbyterian Church

🎭 Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Musical: Your kids’ favorite book characters hit the stage as the Summit High theatre crew put on their performance of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 2 & 4 PM Summit High

🤝 Peace Corp Volunteer Meetup: Head to the Emerald Loop, where you can meet up with other folks who have spent time volunteering with the Peace Corps. 4 PM Emerald Loop

🃏 Cards & Collectibles Show: Whether you're hunting for a rare rookie card or just love the thrill of the find, the Central Oregon Card Show at the Expo Center is your Saturday morning happy place. 9 AM Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center

🌿 Volunteer Project Day: Help shape the future of a new SE Bend park with barbed wire removal and litter cleanup. A hands-on morning that'll make a real difference. 9 AM Future Park Site, SE Bend

🏳️‍🌈 Queer as Flock Park Hang: A laid-back queer community gathering at Pioneer Park. Bring a blanket, bring your friends, and enjoy a spring afternoon outside with the birds. 4 PM Pioneer Park

🥕 Worthy Farmers Market: Stock up on veggies, seafood, and other tasty treats at Worthy’s weekly farmers market. 10 AM - 2 PM Worthy Brewing

🫖 Tea Tasting: Think all black teas taste the same? Think again and learn the subtle differences with a morning of tea tasting at Bend TEAL. 10 AM Bend Tea + Art Lounge

🌙 Community Moon Gathering: Did you have so much fun at Haleigh Smith’s yogalates that you want to hang out with her again? Then join her at the community moon gathering, where individuals can connect with the energy and wisdom of the moon. 7 PM Bend Yoga Center

✍ Rebels Who Write: Come share your latest writings with a fun group of literary thinkers. 6 PM Location shared after signup

🔈 Secrets of the Deep: Relax in Flux’s thermal pools while taking in an afternoon of beats, bodywork, and museful magic. 3 PM Flux Lounge

🧠 NAMI Walks: Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness walk at Pioneer Park to raise awareness and support for mental health in Central Oregon. 9 AM Pioneer Park

🎹 Piano Flow Explore at Smith Rock: Pianist Paula Dreyer is back for another season of piano flow concerts and stunning locations around the high desert. She’s kicking off the season with two shows at Smith Rock State Park. 3 & 5 PM Smith Rock State Park

✍️ Intro to Lettering & Typography: Learn the art of beautiful letters at Freak'n Art with a workshop for anyone who's ever wanted their handwriting to look as good as it does in their head. 2 PM Freak'n Art

🧖 Silent Sauna: A silent sauna session at Hanai Sauna Garden, no talking, no phones, just heat and stillness. 3:45 PM Hanai Sauna Garden

🚗 Old Mill Classic Cruz: Come browse an incredible lineup of classic cars at this annual event at the Old Mill. 9 AM - 3 PM Old Mill

John Shipe | Bend Cider Co. | 6 PM 
Will Kinky | Portello Lounge | 6:30 PM
Clayton Ryan | The Commonwealth Pub | 6:30 PM 
The Rumpeppers | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
FRACTAL | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Peter Wiley & Anna Polonsky | Unitarian Universalist | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Cheyenne West Band | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM

Aaron Golay & The Original Sin | Silver Moon | 7 PM | Tickets
Handmade Moments | Silver Moon | 7:30 PM | Tickets
Obsidian Music Fest | Silver Moon | 5 PM | Tickets
Fortunate Youth | Midtown Ballroom | 8 PM | Tickets
Chained to Stone | The Commonwealth Pub | 8 PM

Trifecta | The Commonwealth Pub | 4 PM
Bill Powers | River’s Place | 5 PM

Stay warm, and thank you again for reading!

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