Bend Family Loop: Weekend of Feb. 27-Mar. 1

Hi there,

Happy almost weekend! There are a lot of cool things happening over the next few days that I'm excited to share with you. Our family is especially looking forward to some of the free music events and the community puzzle swap happening on Saturday.

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

Bend Pops is leveling up this year's winter concert with video game and TV-themed music performed live by a full orchestra. If you think that means old-school 8-bit bleeps and bloops, think again! Today's video game music is seriously orchestral, complete with its own Grammy category.

The program includes Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin, the first video game theme ever to win a Grammy (Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals, 2011), as well as a mix of music that spans classic favorites to modern soundtracks.

Free Concert – No tickets required

Come for an afternoon of music, home-baked cookies, and coffee in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. Kids are encouraged to dress as their favorite TV or video game character and join the costume parade after intermission!

Sunday, March 1 • 2pm • Caldera High School Auditorium • More info

Here’s what’s happening this weekend!

🛝 Toddlers & Tots Play
9-11am • Ages 1-5 • More info
📍Cascade Indoor Sports (20775 High Desert Ln.)

Toddlers get the run of the Bigger Play Thing during this open play session, with climbing and sliding at a pace that suits them. Strider bikes, balloons, soccer balls, and more are also available!

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

Little artists can explore open-ended art and sensory stations, all inspired by this week’s “Under the Sea” theme.

👟 Pregnancy & Postpartum Walk
10am • Parent (+ babe!) event • Free
📍Riverbend Park (799 SW Columbia St.)

Get moving & connect with other new & to-be moms on this free walk organized by Central Oregon Birth & Nurtured Bend.

🔴 Pokémon Day
2:30-5:00pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave, Redmond)

Pokémon fans, this one's for you! Join the worldwide celebration of Pokémon Day on February 27, marking 30 years since the very first games launched in Japan, with battles, trading, snacks, and more.

🧑‍🍳 Knife Skills & Kitchen Basics
5-7pm • Ages 10-15 • Register
📍Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market)

Kids and parents sharpen their skills and learn to chop like a chef in this hands-on kitchen basics class, covering knife skills, kitchen safety, and essential tools while preparing easy, kid-friendly dishes.

🤸 Skill Thrill Camp: Backwards Bound
5:30pm • Ages 6-12 • Register
📍The Little Gym (61334 S Hwy 97 #190)

A camp focused on building the strength, flexibility, and confidence kids need to master back handsprings, with plenty of skill-building and fun along the way!

🧗 Family Climb Night
6-8:30pm • Family Friendly • More info
📍Bend Rock Gym (1182 SE Centennial Ct)

Climb on with discounted passes that include rentals for families! With lots of bouldering and auto-belay routes, this gym is super family friendly and kids of all ages are welcome.

🎟️ Free Family Saturday
10am-4pm • Family-friendly • Free
📍High Desert Museum (59800 South Highway 97)

Come experience the High Desert Museum with free admission all day!

📚 Storytime: “The Bakery Dragon”
11:00am • All ages • Free
📍Barnes & Noble (2690 NE Highway 20)

Grab a warm drink at the cafe and then cozy up in the Children’s Department for a morning storytime reading of “The Bakery Dragon”, a tale featuring dragons, baked goods, and a lesson in generosity.

🧩 Puzzle Swap
12-2pm • Family-friendly • Free • More info
📍Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market)

Bring gently used puzzles and trade them for new-to-you ones at this community swap, open to all ages and puzzle sizes. No puzzle to trade? You're still welcome to take one home! (There are always more than enough!)

❄️ Snowshoe with a Ranger
1pm • Ages 8+ • Register
📍Mt. Bachelor Ranger Station (13000 SW Century Drive)

Join a Forest Service ranger for a family-friendly guided snowshoe hike along Egan Cone, exploring the geology, biology, and hydrology of Deschutes National Forest. Snowshoes provided, no experience needed!

🪈 Music in Public Places: High Desert Wind Quintet
2-3pm • Family-friendly • Free
📍Barber Library, Central Oregon Community College (2600 NW College Way)

A free musical performance by Central Oregon Symphony’s High Desert Wind Quintet. This is a low-stakes way to enjoy live music with your little ones!

🎸 Music Flow Youth Rock Fest
6:00pm • Family friendly • Tickets
📍Volcanic Theatre Pub (70 SW Century Dr)

Young rockers from Music Flow's student band program take the stage for a high-energy night of classic rock, 90s alternative, and heavy metal, with proceeds supporting local music and theater programs.

🤸 Kids Open Gym
5-7:30pm • Ages 6-12 • More info
📍COGA (63060 Layton Ave)

Drop off your kids for a supervised open gym session where they can use the gymnastics equipment and move freely!

🪩 Rotary Club Daddy Daughter Dance Garden Party
6:00pm • All ages • Tickets
📍Summit High School (2855 NW Clearwater Dr)

Garden party themed dance for dads and daughters with dancing, games, snacks and activities.

🧘 Mini & Me Yoga
10am • Ages 3 & under • Register
📍Hanai (62430 Eagle Rd)

A relaxed, all-levels yoga class where little ones are part of the fun, whether they're flowing alongside you or playing nearby while you stretch and unwind.

☘️ Fun With Clay: Shamrock Bowls
11am • Ages 5-15 • Register
📍Harmon Park Clay Studio (1100 NW Harmon Blvd)

Learn hand-building and glazing techniques as you create create shamrock-inspired bowls with your child.

🤸 Party Like a Preschooler
12-1pm • Ages 3-5 • Free • More info
📍The LIttle Gym (61334 S Hwy 97 #190)

An open house for kids ages 3 to 5, explore the gym, meet the team, and discover classes, camps, and special programs in a fun, welcoming environment!

⛸️ $8 Family Skate
12:30-2:30pm • All ages
📍The Pavilion (1001 Southwest Bradbury Way)

Lace up your skates and enjoy a discounted family-friendly ice skating session. It’s only $8 per person and includes rentals (kids under 3 are free!)

🏆 Kids Ninja Warrior Competition - UNAA Regional Qualifier
Time varies by age • Ages 6-13 • More info
📍Free Spirit (320 SW Powerhouse Dr #150)

Kids of all levels can compete in this official UNAA Area Qualifier, navigating a ninja obstacle course scored on points and time, with a 45-minute open gym warm-up beforehand.

🪴 Kids Club: Terra Cotta Pot and Clay
1-3pm • Ages 4+ • Free • More info
📍Michael’s (63486 N Hwy 97)

Paint and decorate a spring-themed pot to jumpstart the gardening season!

🎭 Little Women: The Musical
2-4pm • Family-friendly • Tickets
📍 Mountain View High School Auditorium (2755 NE 27th St)

Mountain View HS students bring Louisa May Alcott's beloved story of the March sisters to life in this heartwarming musical, following four sisters through love, loss, and the pursuit of their dreams.

👾 Bend Pops Winter Concert
2pm • Family-friendly • Free
📍 Caldera High School (60925 SE 15th St)

If you've ever wondered what the Tetris theme sound like with an orchestra behind it, here's your chance! The Bend Pops Orchestra will be performing video game and TV-themed music during this free concert. Kids are encouraged to dress as their favorite TV or video game character and join a costume parade at intermission.

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

🎨 Kids' Night Out: Art-Rageous
Friday • 5-8pm • Ages 6-12 • Register
📍Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market Rd)

A drop-off art evening where kids can explore different creative techniques in the studio.

🤸 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.

🤸 Kids Night Out
Saturday • 5:30-7:30pm • Ages 6+ • Register
📍Tula Movement Arts (2797 NW Clearwater Dr)
Open play time in the studio. 🍕 Pizza included.

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

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

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