Bend Family Loop: Weekend of May 1-3

Hi there,

Happy almost Friday! For those of us in SE Bend, it can sometimes feel like all the good stuff requires loading everyone into the car and driving across town. So we are really excited about the new Elevation Bend Farmers Market launching this week, close enough to actually walk or bike to. We'll definitely be there!

In this weekend's Loop:

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

I’m sure you know the drill: it’s Saturday, not even 9am, and the kids are already bouncing off the walls. You load everything and everyone into the car, head to the park and realize… your coffee is still sitting at home on the counter (cold, of course).

In the last newsletter I asked for your favorite coffee shops close enough to a park that you can actually drink it hot while the kids play. Here are your suggestions!

The most unanimous answer: Sparrow + Compass Park (or Lewis & Clark Park, also close by). Multiple people sent this one, for good reason. The Sparrow window at NWX is a five-minute walk from Compass, and on farmer's market Saturdays it all comes together perfectly. It's our go-to, too!

If you’re looking for some new ideas, here are the other reader favorites:

And a tip from Katie in Sisters: Sisters Coffee + Village Green City Park are about a block apart, and the park is really stellar!

If you have a pile of outgrown kids clothes sitting in a corner waiting to find a new home, this weekend's event is for you!

Little Roots Co-op is a trio of local moms putting on family-friendly pop-ups with a sustainability focus, and this Saturday they're hosting a free Toddler Clothing Swap at the Redmond Library from 2–4pm. The idea is simple: bring what your kids have outgrown (newborn through 5T, freshly laundered), and bring home some new-to-you items to refresh their closet.

Additionally, there will be a Clothing Repair Station running alongside the swap, in partnership with The Environmental Center. If you've been to one of their Repair Café events, this is the same concept but for kids' clothes! Volunteers will be on hand to mend items you find at the swap (or a favorite item brought from home), and there's also a Stain Station on-site.

The whole idea is built around keeping kids' clothes out of the landfill and into the hands of kids who can actually use them. Bring what you can, take what you need.

Saturday, May 2 • 2–4pm • Redmond Public Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond) • Free • More info and guidelines

Here’s what’s happening this weekend!

🛼 With A Child: Skate & Play
9am–12pm • Ages 0-5 • More info
📍The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Way)

Get some roller skating practice in with your toddler or preschooler during a mellow parent-child open skate and play time.

🤸 Toddler Open Play
9am–10:30am & 10:30am–12pm • Ages 10mo–5 • Register
📍Free Spirit (320 SW Powerhouse Dr.)

Babies and toddlers have free reign to climb, crawl, and explore soft obstacles and tunnels in the Free Spirit ninja gym.

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

Get creative and messy while exploring nature themed art and sensory stations during Two Sun’s Art Play!

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

An interactive music and movement class designed for little ones and parents or caregivers, with songs, rhythms, and plenty of wiggling.

🎲 Sisters Monthly D&D Club
2pm–4pm • Ages 11–17 • Free • More info
📍Sisters Library (110 N Cedar St., Sisters)

A teen-lead D&D club with all materials provided, just bring your creativity & imagination! Open to all levels & abilities.

🎪 Elevation Bend Farmers Market
3pm–7pm • All ages • Free
📍Elevation Bend (61334 S Hwy 97)

The Bend Factory Stores are rebranding as “Elevation Bend” and kicking it off with their first Friday Farmers Market. In addition to food & artisan vendors, there will be a kids zone, community mural painting, food trucks, and music. Get Up & Groove will be DJ’ing from 3 to 5, followed by live music by Station Camp from 5 to 7.

🥁 Little Beats & Bowls
4pm–5pm • Ages 4-6 • Register
📍Trebled Souls @ Hanai (62430 Eagle Rd.)

A fun class exploring movement and sound! Combining elements of yoga, rhythmic drum play, storytime, and a sound bath to help support emotional regulation and focus. The first of a three week series, sign up for one or all!

🎨 CityFest at First Friday
5pm–7pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Downtown @ 514 NW Franklin Ave.

The City of Bend is hosting a community gathering as part of the downtown First Friday Art Walk. The Scalehouse Art Gallery will be leading a hands-on community art activity in Tin Pan Alley. Join in to be a part of the next work of Public Art in collaboration with Visit Bend!

🎭 Spring Aerial Arts Showcase
5:30pm–7pm • All ages • Learn more
📍Central Oregon Aerial Arts (20700 Carmen Loop)

Student performers on aerial silks and rope will be recreating scenes from Disney’s animated musicals. Shark Mouth Fajitas food truck will also be on-site.

🎵 First Friday Block Party
5:30pm–8:30pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍The Commons Cafe & Taproom (875 NW Brooks St.)

Live music, food, and community in support of the Latino Community Association. Part of Bend's First Friday Art Walk and open to everyone.

🛼 Friday Night Roller Dance: Glow Night
7:30pm–9:30pm • All ages • More info
📍The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Way)

Glow-themed roller skating with pop music to move to. Skate rentals available. Kids under 6 must skate with an adult.

🚲 Pedal For The Planet
9am–12pm • All ages • Register
📍Farewell Bend Park (1000 SW Reed Market Rd.)

A new community bike ride & fundraiser organized by 350 Deschutes. There will be a 1.3 mile kids route along the paved Deschutes River Trail in addition to a 12-mile loop starting and ending at Farewell Bend Park, traveling along the scenic Haul Road Trail and Rim Rock Trail to the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station and back. A great chance to get out and enjoy biking in Bend!

🎨 Flowers For Mom Art Class
9:30am–10:15am • Ages 5–10 • Book now
📍Bend TEAL (1024 NW Bond St.)

Kids paint and embellish a multimedia Mother's Day portrait with Ms. Sarah. A 45-minute session designed for younger kids who do well with shorter creative projects.

🏺 With A Child: Fairy Doors
10am–12pm • Ages 5–15 • Register
📍Harmon Park Clay Studio (1100 NW Harmon Blvd.)

Create clay fairy doors for your garden or home while learning hand-building and glazing techniques.

🧩 Puzzle Swap
10am–12pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond)

Bring puzzles your family has outgrown and swap them for new-to-you ones. Drop in anytime during the two-hour window.

🎨 Flowers For Mom Art Class
10:45am–11:45am • Ages 8–12 • Book now
📍Bend TEAL (1024 NW Bond St.)

Paint and embellish a multimedia portrait of Mom with Ms. Sarah. This hour-long session is for older kids who like working on one project longer. They'll walk out with a finished Mother's Day gift!

🎶 FikaFest
11am–7:30pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Fika Sisters Coffeehouse (201 E Sun Ranch Dr., Sisters)

All-day music and art festival at Fika Sisters in downtown Sisters. Live sets from Aidan Moye, Two Trick Pony, Doc Cosden, and a full lineup of local artists, face painting, and balloon artistry.

💃 GOLDEN: A K-Pop Kids Party
11am–1pm • All ages • Tickets
📍Domino Room (51 NW Greenwood Ave.)

A family-friendly K-Pop dance party with remixes inspired by familiar soundtracks, K-Pop songs, and iconic pop anthems. Kids 2 & under are free.

🎉 VRCCO Block Party
11am–2pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Ponch's Place (62889 NE Oxford Ct.)

A feel-good Saturday event at Ponch’s Place. There will be a Kids' Zone with an inflatable slide, glitter tattoos, and balloon animals. Plus food trucks, lawn games, Ziggy's Ice Cream, live music by Slipshod, and a Street Dog Hero adoption area.

🌼 Spring Festival
11am–2pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Bend Leadership Academy (21555 Modoc Ln.)

Enjoy a day in the sun with other families at this festival put on by Bend Leadership Academy & Mini Mavericks. There will be food, coffee, and activities put on by Play Theory, Shredder Bend, Mindful Motion, DIY Cave, and more!

🌱 Little Growers Workshop
12pm–2pm • Ages 5–12 • Free • More info
📍Wilco Farm Store (2717 NE Hwy 20, Bend AND 1649 SW Odem Medo Rd, Redmond)

Swing by Wilco in Bend or Redmond to plant a flower as a Mother’s Day gift! Pots & flowers are provided (free!), just come ready for your kiddo to get their hands in some dirt.

♻️ Little Roots Free Toddler Clothing Swap
2pm–4pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond)

Bring newborn-5T clothes to swap and leave with new-to-you items. Clothing repair station on-site in partnership with The Environmental Center. No need to drop off items ahead of time, just come when you can.

✨ Family Art Night: Fused Glass Nightlights
4pm–6pm • Ages 5+ • Register
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

Create fused glass nightlights with Bend Glass Works at Two Suns. Pieces get fired and will be ready for pickup in time for Mother's Day.

🚶 Dad Walks
9am • All ages • Free
📍Riverbend Park (near the boat rentals)

Recurring Sunday morning walk for dads with kids, organized by Central Oregon Birth. Meet at the boat rentals.

🧘 Slow Season Mini+Me Yoga
10am–11am • Ages 6wk–4 • Book
📍Hanai (62430 Eagle Rd.)

Family yoga in the Forest room at Hanai. Your child can follow along on their own mat or play in the in-room play space. Both parents and up to two kids included in one booking.

🌽 Worthy Farmers Market
10am–2pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Worthy Brewing (495 NE Bellevue Dr.)

Local produce, handmade goods, and live music on the dog-friendly patio along with food and drinks.

🪕 The Okee Dokee Brothers
11am • All ages • Tickets
📍Tower Theater (835 NW Wall St.)

Described as “the Shel Silverstein of family music”, The Okee Dokee Brothers are childhood friends that play folk songs that celebrate friendship, nature, and the joy of discovery. They are one of my personal favorites in the “kids music that’s actually enjoyable for adults” category. Kids 2 & under are free!

🛍️ Fresh Finds Market
11am–4pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Juniper Preserve (65600 Pronghorn Club Dr.)

Twenty-five-plus vendors with handmade and vintage goods, lawn games, kids' crafts, and a Street Dog Hero adoption event across the Juniper Preserve grounds.

💐 Mother's Day Makers Market
3pm–7pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Upp Liquids (550 SW Industrial Way)

Local makers selling handmade gifts with live music by Carson Hackbart on the patio. Outdoor setup with room for the kids to browse alongside you.

💇 Beers And Braids
3:30pm–5:30pm • Parent event • Tickets
📍The Slow Season @ Bevel Craft Beer (911 SE Armour Rd.)

Workshop where dads learn hair brushing techniques along with ponytails, braids, and other quick hairstyles while bonding over a pint.

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

🎬 Kids' Night Out: Tangled Movie Night
Friday • 4:30pm–7pm • Ages 5+ • Register
📍Mrs. Marcelle's School of Dance (425 NE Windy Knolls Dr.)

Drop your kids off for movie night! Watch “Tangled” and enjoy popcorn, pizza, and crafts. 🍕 Dinner included.

🏕️ Kids' Night Out With Camp Fire Central Oregon
Friday • 5:30pm–8:30pm • Ages 4–11 • Register
📍Amity Creek School (437 NW Wall St.)

Certified Camp Fire babysitters and staff will lead kids in games, crafts, and more! The location is perfect if you’re looking to hit First Friday kid-free. 🍕 Dinner included.

🤸 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.)

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

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