Bend Family Loop: Weekend of Apr. 17-19

Hi there,

We've had family in town all week, so we’ve been filling our days with the “Best of Bend”. It’s always fun to host and show off Bend to first-time visitors, and actually go do all the things that makes living in this town such a blast!

In this weekend’s Loop:

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

Earth Day Celebration 2026: Save the date!

The Earth Day Fair & Parade is happening next Saturday, April 25th at Alpenglow Park. The Environmental Center’s annual celebration will feature performances from local artists, a parade through the park (nature-inspired costumes encouraged!), over 70 vendors, and countless kids activities & face painting.

April 25 • 11am–3pm • Alpenglow Park (61049 SE 15th St) • Learn more

This Saturday afternoon, the Elks Lodge will be packed with Bend's youngest entrepreneurs, each running their own booth and selling something they made themselves. The Kid’s Entrepreneur Market will feature nearly 60 makers & artists between the ages 7-17, ready to pitch you on their handmade goods.

Founder Mary To-Saturnio started the market in 2022 after watching her own kids pour endless creative energy into lemonade stands, painted rocks, and arcade games built from recycled cardboard. She wanted a real venue for them, and for the other kids she figured were just like them. What started as small library pop-ups has grown into a quarterly event that fills its vendor slots within days.

It's also an eco-friendly market, and the creativity that comes out of that constraint is genuinely impressive. Past vendors have included a girl who melted down mesh produce bags into earrings, a 13-year-old doing remarkably accurate pet portrait commissions, and a kid 3D-printing toys with filament made from corn. This weekend's lineup includes baked goods, hand-sewn accessories, ceramics, slime, comics, candles, finger skateboards, and yes, compost worms (there truly will be something for everyone!).

The kids handle everything themselves: managing the money, answering customer questions, packaging up products, and figuring it out when something doesn't go their way. It's a real chance for them to build confidence, practice money skills, and have actual conversations with adults outside their usual circle.

My girls are still too little to set up a booth, but I'm planning to bring them by anyway. I think there's something powerful about kids seeing other kids running the show. It plants the idea early that this is something they could do too. Hope to see you there!

Saturday, April 18 • 1-4pm • Elks Lodge (63120 Boyd Acres Rd) • Free, family-friendly

BTW, if you've got a budding entrepreneur at home, the next market is in July and vendor spots fill up fast. Sign up for the Kid’s Entrepreneur Market email list to get first dibs.

Here’s what’s happening this weekend!

🚗 Car Seat Clinic
10am–1pm • Free • More info
📍North Fire Station (63377 Jamison St.)

A drive-thru style car seat clinic hosted by Bend Fire & Rescue. Have your seat installation checked out by a professional car seat technician. Look for the orange traffic signs when you arrive.

🎨 Art Play
10am–11am • Ages 2–4 • Register
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

A drop-in art session for toddlers and preschoolers at Two Suns. All supplies provided, just show up ready to get messy and have fun getting creative together.

💃 Zumbini Bend
10am–11am • Ages 0–4 • Free • More info
📍Family Resource Center (2500 NE Twin Knolls Dr.)

Come prepared to dance and be silly! This interactive music and movement class is designed for little ones and parents or caregivers, with songs, rhythms, and plenty of wiggling.

🤸 Toddler Open Play
10am & 12pm sessions • Ages 10 months–5 • Book now
📍 Free Spirit (320 SW Powerhouse Dr)

Little ones can climb, crawl, and explore soft obstacles and tunnels in the Free Spirit ninja gym.

♻️ Rubbish Renewed Trash Fashion Workshop
3pm–6pm • Ages 12–18 • Free • Register
📍The Open Arts Center (999 NE 2nd St.)

Teens create wearable fashion from recycled materials in this free drop-in workshop at OAC. A creative afternoon of problem-solving and upcycling with everything provided.

🎵 Live Music feat. Mason James
6pm–8pm • Family-friendly • Free • More info
📍Ponch’s Place (62889 NE Oxford Ct.)

Grab dinner at one of the food trucks (note that most close at 7pm) and enjoy a free performance by local musician Mason James. This is a small, dog-and-family friendly food pod with lawn games and 10 rotating taps up in NE.

🤸‍♂️ Open Gym Friday
7:30pm–9pm • Ages 6–12 • Register
📍COGA (63060 Layton Ave.)

A Friday night open gym at Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy. Kids get free rein on the equipment for 90 minutes. Registration required to hold your spot.

🏃‍♀️ Slow Season Run Club
9:30am • Ages 6 months+ • Free • Register
📍Larkspur Park Trailhead

Bring your jogging stroller and babe for a group run with fellow parents. The group is following a 5K training plan leading up to the Happy Girls 5K in May.

🎬 With A Child: Claymation Movie Making
10am–12:30pm • Ages 5–15 • Register
📍Steller Jay Creative Learning (369 NE Revere Ave.)

Kids and parents build wild creatures out of clay and turn them into stop-motion animated movies together. Every student takes home digital copies of their films!

🐞 Bug Sculptures For Kids
11am–11:45am • Ages 6–11 • Tickets
📍TEAL (1024 NW Bond St. Ste. 101)

Drop your kids off for 45 minutes of creative fun with Ms. Alyssa as they design and build unique bug sculptures using playful materials and techniques. From colorful wings to quirky antennae, no two bugs will be the same.

🍜 With A Child: Cantonese Barbecue Pork Buns
1pm–3pm • Ages 7–13 • Register
📍 Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market Rd.)

Learn to make Char Siu Bao (steamed barbecue pork buns) together. You and your kiddo make the sweet and savory filling from scratch, then fill, shape, and bake the buns.

🛍️ Kids Entrepreneur Market
1pm–4pm • Family-friendly • More info
📍Elks Lodge (63120 Boyd Acres Rd.)

A pop-up market where young entrepreneurs showcase and sell their own products. A fun afternoon to browse, support local kids' businesses, and maybe pick up something handmade.

🧘 Harmony & Hugs Family Yoga
2:30pm–3:45pm • Ages 5-9 • Register
📍Namaspa (1135 NW Galveston Ave.)

A family yoga class paired with a sound bath experience. A grounding afternoon for parents and kids to slow down and move together.

🌏 A Glimpse Of Bengal: Henna, Face Painting, And More
4pm–6pm • Ages 4+ • Free • More info
📍Sunriver Library (56855 Venture Ln., Sunriver)

Sushmita Poddar shares a glimpse of West Bengal's culture through henna and face painting. Kids create Bengal Folk Art patterns they get to take home. Part of the DPL Youth A Novel Idea program.

🎺 Music Masters: Community Concert
7pm–8pm • Family-friendly • Free • More info
📍 Wille Hall, COCC (2600 NW College Way)

An evening of brass chamber music featuring the 27th St. Brass Quintet and the Oregon Brass Quintet. Free, open to all, and a great chance to hear live brass with the family.

🚶‍♂️ Dads Walk
9am • All ages • Free • More info
📍Riverbend Park, near the boat rentals (799 SW Columbia St)

Join other dads on this morning walk with little ones in tow (strollers, carriers, or on their own two feet!).

🏃‍♀️CORK Mom Squad Run
9am–10am • All ages • Free • More info
📍Miller's Landing Park (55 NW Riverside Blvd.)

A monthly running group for moms in all phases of motherhood and all running levels. You’re welcome to join with or without the kids, and it’s stroller-friendly.

🎰 Not'cho Grandma's Bingo supporting BEAM
9:30am–12pm • Family-friendly • Tickets
📍Silver Moon Brewing (24 NW Greenwood Ave.)

A fun & family-friendly bingo fundraiser supporting BEAM Learning Program and The YOUNI Movement. All proceeds go to creating safe, supportive spaces for local kids.

🧘 Mini + Me Yoga
10am–11am • Ages 6 weeks–4 years • Register
📍Hanai (62430 Eagle Rd.)

A family yoga class for parents and kids up to four years old. Your child can follow along on their own mat or play in the in-room play space while you move, stretch, and connect with other parents.

🪴 With A Child: Flower Pots
11am–1pm • Ages 5–15 • Register
📍Harmon Park Clay Studio (1100 NW Harmon Blvd.)

A hands-on clay class for kids & a parent. Shape flower pots, learn hand-building techniques, and glaze with bright colors.

🌏 A Glimpse Of Bengal: Henna, Face Painting, And More
1pm–3pm • Ages 4+ • Free • More info
📍The Open Arts Center (999 NE 2nd St.)

Sushmita Poddar shares a glimpse of West Bengal's culture through henna and face painting. Kids create Bengal Folk Art patterns they get to take home. Part of the DPL Youth A Novel Idea program.

🛼 Sunday Family Skate & Skatepark
2pm–4pm • All ages • More info
📍The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Way)

Spring is here and so is roller shake season! The Pavilion has been transformed from ice to skating rink, and this is the first family open skate & skatepark session of 2026! Roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, and scooters are all welcome. Skate rental included in admission. Kids under 3 are free with a paying adult. Bring your own helmet (required in the skatepark).

🩰 Giselle (Sunday Matinee)
2pm • Family-friendly • Tickets
📍Mountain View High School Auditorium (2755 NE 27th St.)

Central Oregon School of Ballet performs one of the most beloved ballets of the Romantic era.

🎶 Circle Of Voices: Ukrainian Women's Folklore Trio
3:30pm–5:30pm • Family-friendly • Get tickets
📍Hanai (62430 Eagle Rd.)

A live performance by a Ukrainian women's folklore trio at Hanai. A unique cultural experience with traditional music and food and beverages inspired by the seasonal traditions of the Polissya region

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

🎨 Kids' Night Out: Fun With Clay
Friday • 6pm–8pm • Ages 7–12 • Register
📍Harmon Park Clay Studio (1100 NW Harmon Blvd.)

Drop the kids off for a Friday night of hand-building in the clay studio. They'll explore different techniques, create projects, and play the night away while you enjoy some time off.

🤸 Kids Night Out
Friday • 6-9pm • Ages 4-12 • More info
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd #150)

Drop the kids off for a night of jumping, games, and staff-led activities while you get to take a break! 🍕 Pizza included.

🤸 Ninja Night Out
Saturday • 5:30-8:30pm • Ages 6-13 • More info
📍Free Spirit (320 SW Powerhouse Dr #150)

Free Spirit coaches lead an evening of obstacle course races, team-building games, and ninja challenges.

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