Hi there,
This whole weekend felt like the first real preview of summer. Friday we biked over to the new Elevations farmers market, Saturday ended up at Schilling's Garden Market with fizzy drinks and lemonade, and Sunday my kiddo searched every flowering bush at Watershed Coffee for fairies.
This week's newsletter is a short one -- my mom is in town for a visit and I'm squeezing in every minute with her I can. But the lineup is good!
In this week’s Loop:
Downtown Farmers Market opens for the season on Wednesday
Kids Curate opens at the High Desert Museum (elementary students have been working on this exhibit for months!)
Kids designing prosthetics for sea creatures at the Redmond Library (yes, really!)
The Central Oregon Youth Orchestra's spring concert at the Tower
Let’s jump right in!
–Megan
Upcoming Programs + Registration
Here are some upcoming dates to stick onto your calendar!
BEAT Children’s Theatre: “The Secret Garden”: Performances of "The Secret Garden," adapted by Tim Kelly, begin this upcoming weekend. This non-musical version of the literary classic you’ve loved for years, includes a special surprise: the set, which changes each time, features flowers hand-crafted by local Central Oregon artists! Buy your tickets here (matinee showtimes are available!)
Truck Time @ Skylark: Is there a better match than toddlers + giant work vehicles?! Skylark Academy is hosting Truck Time on 5/16 with trucks from the Deschutes County SWAT team, Adventure Medics, plus all your kid’s favorite construction & excavation equipment. It’s open to all and free, but an RSVP is needed.
BLP Kindergarten Kickoff Events begin this week! Find the event scheduled for your kiddo’s school on the BLP website here.
Activities & Events
Here’s what’s happening this week!
Monday 5/4
⚽ Toddlers & Tots Play
9am–11am • Ages 1–5 • Register
📍Cascade Indoor Sports (20775 High Desert Ln.)
The whole facility is open for kids under 5. Enjoy the Big Play Thing climbing structure, soccer field, strider bikes, and a grab-bag of other gear.
Messy Monday Toddler Time at Mountain Air
9am–12pm • Ages 0–5 • Book now
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd.)
Toddlers-only open jump, with extra sensory and art activities available in the activity room. Trampolines, foam pit, and the toddler zone will be open.
📚 Preschool Story Time
10:30am–11am • Ages 3–5 • Free • More info
📍Deschutes Historical Museum (129 NW Idaho Ave.)
A lively storytime packed with stories, songs, and rhymes to get little ones excited about reading and build early literacy skills.
🍼 Milk & Mingle
12pm–1pm • Free • More info
📍Evermore Midwifery & Health (130 SW Century Dr. Suite 110)
Drop-in hour of feeding support for parents and babies. Come with questions, get tips, and meet a community of supportive women.
🧵 Met Gala Watch Party + Teen Open Sew
4pm–7pm • Ages 13–18 • Register
📍The Open Arts Center (999 NE 2nd St.)
Catch the Met Gala during this week’s open sewing studio! Bring your own project or get inspired by this year’s “Fashion is Art” official dress code on the red carpet.
Tuesday 5/5
🖼️ Exhibition Opening: Kids Curate
9am • All ages • More info
📍High Desert Museum (59800 S Hwy 97)
La Pine Elementary third and fourth graders spent months visiting the museum studying diverse perspectives of fire, and their artwork goes on display in the Desertarium Gallery starting today through June 7.
🎨 Sensory Art Play
9:15am–10:15am • Ages 0–2 • No direct link found (Check schedule)
📍Two Suns Art Studio + Makerspace (70 SW Century Dr.)
Sensory art and play using baby & toddler friendly materials
💪 Mini + Me Strong
10am–11am • Ages 0–4 • Book
📍Slow Season Collective @ Hanai (62430 Eagle Rd.)
Full body circuit workout for parents with little ones welcome! Body weight exercises, resistance bands, kettlebells, and a yoga-inspired cooldown. A playspace is set up so kids can stay occupied while you work out.
📚 Baby Story Time
10:30am–10:45am • Ages 0–1 • Free • More info
📍Deschutes Children's Foundation (2125 NE Daggett Ln.)
A short and sweet storytime for caregivers and babies. Read, sing, and enjoy the community that comes from a room full of little ones finding their voices together.
🦘 Jump For Joy: Toddler Time
12:30pm–2:30pm • Ages 0–5 • Free • More info
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd. #150)
The Library is hosting a free exclusive toddler jump for ages 5 and under. Includes storytelling by Ms. Meredith from Assistance League of Bend. RSVP in adavance.
🧶 With A Child: Macrame Plant Hanger
5:30pm–7:30pm • Ages 6–15 • Register
📍Samara Learning Center (230 NE 9th St.)
Learn macrame knotting techniques and make a plant hanger together. All supplies provided!
Wednesday 5/6
📚 Toddler Story Time
10:30am–10:55am • Ages 1–3 • Free • More info
📍Deschutes Children's Foundation (2125 NE Daggett Ln.)
An active story time with stories, songs, and movement rhymes for toddlers 18–36 months.
🧑🌾 Bend Farmers Market (Downtown)
11am–3pm • Family-friendly • Free
📍Brook’s Alley (Between NW Franklin Ave & NW Oregon Ave)
The season’s first Wednesday Farmers Market downtown! This one is a food-only market (no crafts, etc) and there is always an abundance of produce, even in these earlier weeks.
🎨 Let's Paint: Solar System
1pm–4pm • Ages 6–11 • Book now
📍Tower Theater Encore Room (835 NW Wall St.)
This week’s early release class explores the solar system using a creative lens.
🛼 $8 Cheap Skate & Skatepark
2:30pm–5pm • All ages • More info
📍The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Dr.)
Roller skating at The Pavilion with skate rentals included! The skatepark is open too, so rollerblades, skateboards, and scooters are all welcome. (Bring your own helmets.)
💐 Mommy + Me: Fresh Flowers Bouquet + Tea Time
3pm • All ages • Tickets
📍Play Theory Cafe (2221 NE 3rd St.)
Build a fresh flower bouquet step by step with your kiddo, with all blooms and materials provided. Includes a tea and desserts table!
🎨 Family Art Play
4pm–5pm • Ages 0–6 • Register
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)
Open-ended art exploration class for families to get creative (and messy!) together.
💃 Free Kids Line Dance Lessons
5pm–6pm • Ages 4–12 • Free • More info
📍The Coyote (910 NW Harriman St.)
An hour of kid’s line dancing lessons led by Ms Alex while you grab a drink & something to eat!
Thursday 5/7
📚 Story Time & Art with Mrs. Meredith
10:30am–11:30am • Ages 0–5
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd.)
Story time and an arts & crafts project with Mrs. Meredith. Toddler jump is open from 9am-12pm.
🎨 Two Suns Art Play
10am–11am • Ages 2–4 • Register
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)
Hands-on art play session designed for toddlers and preschoolers, with kid-friendly materials and art supplies to explore.
🔬 Creating Prosthetics For Sea Creatures
3pm–5pm • Ages 10+ • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond)
Design and build custom prosthetics for sea creatures using the Engineering Design Process with Central Oregon STEM Hub. Your kid can research, sketch, and prototype solutions, then test them in a tank.
🎨 OAC Teen Open Art Hours
3pm–7pm • Ages 13–17 • Free • No direct link found (Check schedule)
📍The Open Arts Center (25 NW Minnesota Ave. #5)
Drop-in creative space for teens. Art materials, musical instruments, sewing machines, and more provided. Work on whatever inspires you! Come for an hour or stay all four.
🎵 Central Oregon Youth Orchestra Spring Concert
7pm (doors 6pm) • All ages • Tickets
📍Tower Theatre (835 NW Wall St.)
COYO's spring concert at the Tower Theatre featuring the full youth orchestra.
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