Hi there,

Who is ready for a jam-packed weekend? There is a lot happening so let’s jump right in!

In this weekend’s Loop:

—Megan

Here’s what’s happening this weekend!

🤸 Toddlers & Tots Play
🕘 9-11am 📍Cascade Indoor Sports ⭐️ Ages 1-5
Enjoy climbing and sliding in the Bigger Play Thing without the “big kid” energy during this toddler-friendly open play time. There will also be Strider bikes, balloons, soccer balls, and more available for play. → more info

🚗 Car Seat Clinic
🕙 10am-1pm 📍Bend Fire North Station (305)
Receive the gift of peace of mind at this free car seat clinic. Bring your installed car seat an a certified car seat technician will double check your work and help make any needed adjustments. → more info

🛍️ Holiday Pop Up & Kid's Makers Market
🕓 4-7pm 📍Holm Made Toffee ⭐️ All ages
Support Bend’s kidpreneurs at this pop up makers market! In addition to shopping hand-crafted goods, there will be a hot cocoa bar and complimentary hot cider and toffee to enjoy while you wander. → more info

🇺🇦 Ukrainian Winter Craft Lab
🕓 4pm 📍Café des Chutes ⭐️ All ages
Learn about the folk tradition of Vertep as you paint and decorate your own mask, lead by Kiev artist Tetyana Fedosenko. Enjoy music, a traditional tea service, Ukrainian holiday treats, and leave ready for tomorrow’s Caroling Night. Free to attend, though donations are welcomed and will benefit KOLOVITA’s cultural wellness programs for refugee and local families in Central Oregon. → more info & tickets

⛸️ Winter Solstice & 10th Anniversary Celebration
🕕 6-8:30pm 📍The Pavilion ⭐️ All ages
A two-for-one celebratory skate night! Enjoy an evening of open skating under twinkle lights with music, hot cocoa, cupcakes, and a performance put on by the Bend Ice Figure Skating Club (7pm). Bring a non-perishable food donation for a special $8 rate (which includes skate rentals!). → more info

📚 Polar Express Storytime
🕕 6pm 📍Barnes & Noble ⭐️ All ages
Come ready to cozy up in your PJ’s with a cup of hot cocoa for this special storytime reading of “The Polar Express”. → more info

🎉 Toddler Holiday Party
🕘 9–11am 📍Trampoline Zone ⭐️ Ages 0-6
Get those weekend wiggles out early at Trampoline Zone’s Toddler Holiday Party! Bounce, jump, and meet Santa. → Register

🎅 Santa’s Workshop
🕙 10am–2pm 📍The Oxford Hotel ⭐️ All ages
A free family event at The Oxford with cookie decorating, holiday crafting, a hot cocoa bar, and a chance to meet Santa and take photos by the fireplace. → more info

🛷 Kids Workshop: Sleigh Ride
🕙 10am 📍Lowe’s ⭐️ All ages
Let your mini builder tackle their own holiday project at this workshop. Kids build and decorate a wooden Santa, sleigh, and reindeer while practicing simple tool skills and fine motor moves. → Register, free but deadline is 12/19!

🎨 Holiday Ornaments
🕙 10am 📍Wondry School ⭐️ Ages 2-6
Join your child in crafting holiday ornaments that you can bring home to hang on the tree or give as gifts. → Register

📚 The Night Before Christmas Storytime
🕚 11am 📍Barnes & Noble ⭐️ All ages
Wear something festive and enjoy a reading of The Night Before Christmas in the children’s department. → More info

🫖 Storytime Tea
🕝 2:30pm 📍The People’s Apothecary ⭐️ Ages 3-7
Cozy up with your little one for an interactive storytime while enjoying a selection of child-friendly tea and snacks. → More info

Ukrainian Caroling Night
🕓 4pm 📍Café des Chutes ⭐️ All ages
Join vocalist Inna Kovtun for a evening of candle-lit singing, festive Ukrainian food, and community. If you participated in Friday’s Vertep mask decorating, bring it along to participate in the Vertep mask procession. Free to attend, though donations are welcomed and will benefit KOLOVITA’s cultural wellness programs for refugee and local families in Central Oregon. → More info & tickets

🥞 Pancakes with The Grinch
🕙 10am 📍Currents at the Riverhouse ⭐️ All ages
Start the day with holiday twists on brunch favorites, along with a visit from the cuddly (…as a cactus) and charming (…as an eel) Mr. Grinch himself. → Reservations

🎅 Breakfast with Santa
🕙 10am & 11:30am 📍Sister’s Depot ⭐️ All ages
Enjoy a cozy and relaxed breakfast buffet at Sister’s Depot where kids can chat with Santa and enjoy a magical morning they won’t forget! → Reservations

🎅 Santa’s Workshop
🕙 10am–2pm 📍The Oxford Hotel ⭐️ All ages
A free family event at The Oxford with cookie decorating, holiday crafting, a hot cocoa bar, and a chance to meet Santa and take photos by the tree. → more info

☕️ Cocoa Dreams Hot Chocolate Bar
🕛 12-5pm 📍Lady Bird Cultural Society ⭐️ All ages
It might finally be cold enough this weekend to properly enjoy the final day of the Lady Bird Hot Cocoa Bar, where half the fun is loading up your cup with allll kinds of goodies (the other half is negotiating which sweet treat from Foxtail Bakery to pair it with). → more info

🎶 Carolers in the Old Mill
🕛 12-3:30pm 📍Old Mill ⭐️ All ages
Enjoy the sounds of the ReSistas carolers as they roam the Old Mill. It’s the perfect soundtrack to a family river walk or getting some last minute shopping done.

🩰 Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker
🕒 3pm 📍Regal Cinemas Old Mill ⭐️ All ages
If going to a theater performance wasn’t in the cards this year, catch a screening of The Nutcracker performed by the Royal Ballet on the big screen. A low-stakes way to introduce the kids to the ballet (but with popcorn instead of dressing up 😉) → Tickets

Michael the Train Man is back at the Downtown Library for his 25th year constructing an incredible miniature holiday train display. This is a fun event for kids of all ages and it’s a great outing with grandparents or out-of-town guests.

Hours:

🚂 Saturday @ 10:00am–12:30pm and 3:00–5:30pm
🚂 Sunday @ 10:00am–12:30pm and 3:00–5:30pm
(event continues through 12/28 if you can’t make it this weekend!)

What you need to know:

Saturday: Santa is busy today! After making an appearance at the Trampoline Zone Toddler Party (9-11am), he’s off to his workshop at The Oxford Hotel for pictures and cookie decorating from 10am–2pm. Meanwhile, he will also be at Sister’s Depot for photos from 11am–2pm. To end the day, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be heading to the Midtown Yacht Club Maker’s Market around 1pm.

Sunday: After enjoying breakfast with the kiddos at Sister’s Depot (10am & 11:30am), Santa will be back at his workshop at The Oxford Hotel (10am–2pm), while Mrs. Claus hosts storytime in front of the grand fireplace at Sunriver Lodge (11am).

Additionally, SantaLand in the Old Mill will be open Friday-Sunday from 11am–5pm.

Opportunities for you get a little time without the kids (hello, date night!).

Kids Night Out
🗓️ Friday 🕠 5:30-7:30pm 📍Tula Movement Arts ⭐️ Ages 6+
Open play time in the studio. Pizza provided. → register here

“Art-rageous” Parent’s Night Out
🗓️ Friday 🕔 5-8pm 📍Larkspur Community Center ⭐️ Ages 6-12
Kids spend the evening getting creative with different art supplies in the multimedia studio. → register here

Parent Survival Night: Winter Blast
🗓️ Friday 🕠 5:30-8:30pm 📍The Little Gym ⭐️ Ages 3-12
Kiddos will have “snow” much fun getting their energy out in this winter themed kids night out. → register here

Kids Night Out: Minute to Win It
🗓️ Friday 🕖 6-9pm 📍Mountain Air ⭐️ Ages 4-12
Jump time, games, and staff led activities. Pizza provided. → more info

Ninja Night
🗓️ Saturday 🕠 5:30-8:30pm 📍Free Spirit ⭐️ Ages 6-13
Free Spirit coaches lead an evening of obstacle course races, team-building games, and ninja challenges. → register here

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