Bend Family Loop: Weekend of Mar. 13-15

Hi there,

We have a quintessential Bend weekend ahead of us: lots of activities to choose from, and some weather that will keep us on our toes! Looks like it’s going to be a fun one ☘️

In this weekend’s Loop:

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

Summer adventure is calling, and we've got two amazing camps for kids ages 5½–12!

🌿 Eco-Hero Camp: Kids bike around Bend, visit a solar-powered shop, taste Oregon-grown food at the farmers market, and cool off at the river. Fun and sustainable living in action.

🌲 Forest Explorers Camp: Think fort-building, creek-splashing, and learning about plants and animal habitats in the woods surrounding Skyliner Lodge. Classic summer camp magic!

More details can be found on pages 71 & 73 of the BP&R Summer Playlist.

Redmond families, the registration process will be the same as last year through our website in just a few short weeks!

📅 Mark your calendars — registration opens March 17th!

There's something mesmerizing about watching Irish dancers in full costume, feet flying in perfect rhythm while their arms stay completely still. With deep roots in Celtic culture, this distinctive style has been performed at celebrations for generations. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend than catching a live performance!

This Saturday, Portland’s Yeates Academy of Irish Dance is performing at spots all around town. As Oregon's longest-running Irish dance school, they know how to put on a show that will have you and the kids toe-tapping along. Seeing them perform has become our family’s favorite St. Patrick’s Day tradition!

👯 Irish Dance Performances this Weekend

Catch them at multiple locations throughout the day on Saturday. Performances are family-friendly and run about 20-30 minutes. Here are the details:

Whether you're celebrating Irish heritage or just looking for a festive weekend activity, these dancers bring energy, tradition, and a whole lot of impressive footwork!

Here’s what’s happening this weekend!

🤸 Fun Friday Toddler Time
9am-12pm • Ages 5 & under • More info
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd #150)

Fun Friday is here! Dive into activity bins packed with roller coasters, ride-on cars, bouncy horses, blocks, big balls, and more, with additional curated toys and activities to match the theme.

🎨 Art Play
10am-11am • Ages 2–4 • Register
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr, Suite 190)

Budding artists explore open-ended art and sensory stations this week, with a Fashion & Fabrics theme to spark creativity and imagination.

🎲 Dungeons & Kittens
1:30pm-3:30pm • Ages 8–10 • Free • Register
📍Sisters Library (110 N Cedar St, Sisters)

Join a fantastical, medieval adventure where cats and animals rule and "meowgic” and nature shape the world. If your 8-10 year old is interested in storytelling and roleplaying games like D&D, this is a great (gentler) introduction.

🍿 Page to Screen: The Wild Robot
6pm • Family friendly • Free • RSVP
📍Tower Theatre (835 NW Wall St)

A free family movie night featuring The Wild Robot, the story of a robot discovering what it means to belong in the natural world. Presented as part of the Page to Screen series with Deschutes Public Library.

⛷️ Ski For All
8am-4pm • Family friendly • Learn more
📍Mt. Bachelor (13000 SW Century Dr)

Bring the whole family to Ski for All, a winter fundraiser where skiers, riders, volunteers, and spectators of all kinds come together to support adaptive outdoor recreation for people with disabilities.

🏂 Winter Carnival
9am-9pm • Family friendly • Free • More info
📍Hoodoo Ski Area (27400 Big Lake Road, Sisters)

Hoodoo’s Winter Carnival offers a full day of free activities including ax throwing, tube races, pie eating contests, archery, snow sculptures, and bingo, plus a torchlight descent and fireworks in the evening. It might look a little different this year due to the low snow, but it will still be a fun time for families!

🌲 Saturdays at Skyliner
9am-2pm • Family friendly • Free • More info
📍Skyliners Lodge (16125 Skyliners Rd)

Bring the family to Skyliner Lodge for hot chocolate, a sweet treat, and a free 12 to 1pm presentation from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife all about porcupines and a new Central Oregon study. Pair it with sledding at the sno-park or a snowshoe to Tumalo Falls!

🧘 Kid’s Yoga
9:30am-10:45am • Ages 4+ • More info
📍Namaspa Yoga Community (1135 NW Galveston Ave.)

An interactive yoga class for kids that runs at the same time as the adult Power Flow class, so the whole family can get some time on the mat.

👕 Bend Kids Clothing Exchange
10am-12pm • Free
📍Pine Forest Grange (63214 Boyd Acres Rd)

Come “shop” for your kiddo at this month’s clothing exchange! Bring clothes up to size 5T that are in good, clean condition to swap (note–it’s not necessary to donate to participate!!) if you’re ready to pass things along, too.

❄️ Junior Snow Ranger
10am-12pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Mt. Bachelor Sunrise Base Area Yurt ()

Kids can earn a Jr. Snow Ranger badge while exploring the winter landscape through snowshoeing, hands-on outdoor learning, and winter safety skills. Drop in for a bit or stay for the whole program!

📚 Storytime with Sloth
10am-11am • All ages • More info
📍Paulina Springs Books (252 W Hood Ave, Sisters)

Enjoy an hour long storytime with books, songs, and coloring!

🎨 The Saturday Series: Claude Monet
10am-12:30pm • Ages 7–15 • Register
📍Steller Jay Creative (369 NE Revere Ave #107)

Taking inspiration from Claude Monet's iconic dreamy impressionist style, kids will explore his techniques and create a masterpiece entirely their own.

📚 Storytime: Tractors in Space!
11am • All ages • Free • More info
📍Barnes & Noble (2690 NE Highway 20)

Grab a warm drink at the cafe, then head over to the Children's Department for storytime featuring Tractors in Space, a hilarious picture book about a tractor named Toby who ditches farm life to blast off on an intergalactic adventure!

☘️ St. Patrick's Day Dash
12pm • Family friendly • More info
📍Old Mill (520 SW Powerhouse Dr)

A family-friendly St. Patrick's Day walk and run along the Deschutes River, with 10K, 5K, and 1.5-mile options, live music, celebration, and costume contests for the Cutest Little Leprechaun and best green getup.

🌼 Fun With Clay: Garden Gnomes
12:30pm-2:30pm • Ages 5–15 • Register
📍Harmon Park Clay Studio (1100 NW Harmon Blvd)

Team up with your child to build and glaze your very own garden gnomes in this hands-on clay class using hand-building techniques.

🎪 Children's Museum of Central Oregon Pop Up
1pm-2:30pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market Rd)

Drop in to experience some of the favorite exhibits from the Central Oregon Children’s Museum at this free pop-up event.

🐾 Snowshoe & Tracking Tour 8am-1pm • Ages 8+ • Register
📍Wanderlust Tours (61535 S Hwy 97)

A one-of-a-kind guided snowshoe adventure where Wanderlust and Think Wild guides teach track identification, animal movement patterns, and natural history along the way!

🧘 Mini & Me Yoga
10am-11am • Ages 0–3 • Register
📍Hanai (62430 Eagle Rd)

Kids are welcome to flow alongside you or play nearby in this all-levels yoga class, with plenty of time to stretch, move, and connect with other parents.

⛸ Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
12:30pm-3:30pm • Family friendly • More info
📍The Pavilion (1001 Southwest Bradbury Way)

Bring the whole family to Camp Fire Central Oregon’s annual ice skating party celebrating the incredible kids in our community, with activities, tasty treats, and free admission for the first 200 kids!

🐣 Kids Club: Tissue Painted Eggs
1pm-3pm • Ages 4+ • Free • RSVP
📍Michaels (63487 N Hwy 97)

A hands-on craft time where kids can decorate plastic eggs using tissue paper and paint.

❄️ Snowshoe with a Ranger
10am • Ages 8+ • Register
📍Mt Bachelor Ranger Station (13000 SW Century Dr)

Families with kids 8+ can join a 1½ mile ranger-led snowshoe hike that departs from the Mt. Bachelor Ranger Station. Learn about the geology and biology of the area as well as snowshoeing tips (no prior experience is necessary). It’s $10 and snowshoes are included.

😻 Paint Your Own Pet
2pm-5pm • Ages 8+ • Register
📍Playful Paws Cat Cafe (1465 SW Knoll Ave)

Artist Sandy Klein pre-sketches your pet on canvas and guides you through a two-hour painting session (no experience needed!) followed by a full hour in the cat lounge meeting and cuddling adoptable kitties!

🌳 Free Trees for Kids
Free • Register
📍Neighborhood Forest & Deschutes Public Library

Register your family by March 15 to receive a free tree to plant at home as part of Deschutes Public Library's Earth Week celebrations, in partnership with Neighborhood Forest's Annual Free Tree Program. Pick up in late April at Larkspur Community Center or Redmond Library.

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

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

Drop the kids off for a night of obstacle courses, 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 Ste 150)

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

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

🏃 Slow Season Run Club
Saturday • 9:30am-10:15am • Free • RSVP
📍Larkspur Trailhead @ Larkspur Park (1797 SE Bronzewood Ave)

Bring the stroller and join other parents on a morning run, following a beginner-friendly 5k training program with walking and running intervals and the Happy Girls 5k as a fun, no-pressure goal.

👩 Single Moms Meetup
Saturday • 2pm-3:30pm • Free • RSVP
📍Tula Movement Arts (2797 NW Clearwater Dr)

A casual meetup for single moms to connect and build community, with kids welcome.

🏃🏼‍♀️ CORK Mom Squad
Sunday • 9am-10am • Free • More info
📍Miller's Landing (80 NW Riverside Blvd)

Join a supportive group of moms for a run (or walk!) with route options that go off pavement or are stroller friendly. This group is welcoming of moms in all stages of motherhood and running abilities.

Thank you for reading the Bend Family Loop today. If you found something useful, please share it with a friend 💛