Bend Family Loop: Weekend of May 8-10

Hi there,

My vision for Sunday: coffee and a pastry from M's, a picnic at Miller's Landing, an afternoon at Schilling's with the gardens and live music, and ending the day with a moms-only soak at McMenamins while the dads hang with the kids. Reality check: our nap schedule will most certainly have other plans (and it always wins). But I'm getting that soak one way or another 😉

In this weekend’s Loop:

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

Free Spirit is offering BFL readers $25 off their Baby Ninja and Mini Ninja 4-week series starting the week of May 18th.

Baby Ninja (10–24 months) and Mini Ninja (ages 2–3) are parent-child classes held in Free Spirit's ninja ninja gym with soft obstacle courses, rings, balance beams, parachute play, and a weekly theme to keep it fun! Both classes are designed around what little ones are actually working on developmentally, with coaches to guide the class so you're not just winging it alongside them. Good for the kids, and genuinely fun for the adults too.

Use code LITTLEMOVERS2026 at checkout to save $25.

Register here!

If you've already got brunch locked in (or you're skipping it entirely), there is a lot happening this weekend that has nothing to do with a prix fixe menu. Here are all the fun, mom-centric events including markets, workshops, a free workout, a lavender farm, and a women's comedy night.

Tipsy Terrariums at Somewhere That's Green: Make a tropical terrarium with two mimosas included. Spots are very limited, so check the link to see if any are still available. (More info | 9am📍1017 NE 2nd St.)

Mother's Day Weekend at Schillings Garden Market: An all-day celebration with cocktails, food trucks (Shark Mouth Fajitas and Crepes du Jouir), art vendors, and live music from Jordan Wolf from 3–5pm. Bring a blanket or a low chair for the music. (9am–5pm📍64640 Old Bend-Redmond Hwy.)

MomForward Movement Community Workout: Free community workout at Lift Fitness Studio, benefiting the nonprofit For All Mothers+. Donate to enter the raffle for prizes from FAM+, Oiselle, The Little Milk Bar, and more. (More info | 10:30am📍514 NW Franklin Ave.)

Mother's Day Flower Party: Passion Flowers Bend will be set up in Northwest Crossing with a flower bar where you can build a bouquet by the stem. (10am–2pm📍The Grove, 921 NW Mt. Washington Dr.)

Mother's Day at the Farm: Tumalo Lavender is celebrating moms with lavender lemonade and bites made with their own lavender, the full shop open, and a free gift for every mom who shows up. (10am–4pm📍19825 Connarn Rd.)

Mother's Day Jewelry Workshop at DIYcave (10am–12pm) — Make three sterling silver rings or a heart necklace using torch soldering. All materials and tools included. Open to ages 14+ with a parent. (More info | 10am–12pm📍444 SE 9th St.)

Treat Yo' Mama at River's Place: The 8th annual pre-Mother's Day event: local vendors, live music from Mark Creech (2–4pm), and a free rosé wine tasting from 3–5pm. Free to attend. (12pm–5pm📍787 NE Purcell.)

Bloom & Belong Flower Crown Workshop: A collaboration between Blomstra Floral Co. and Julia Duke Photo. You'll make a handmade flower crown and leave with a few portraits from the experience too. (More info | 1pm📍Pine & Prism Wellness, 856 NW Bond St.)

Mom & Me Market: A pop-up market inside Trampoline Zone, with the park open for kids to jump while parents shop. Vendors include The Fizz Bar, Oh My Goodness Bakery, Chalked Creative art kits, Mae Rose Photography, and more. If you jump, a portion of your admission goes to Camp Fire if you mention them at check-in. (2pm–6pm📍63040 NE 18th St.)

Hot Mess Fest: Women 18+ only, and honestly it sounds like a really good time. An evening centered around perimenopause, menopause, and women's health with female comedians, guest speakers, vendors, and food. Created by the owner and manager of Craft Kitchen & Brewery, who wanted a space where women could ask the questions they don't usually get to ask out loud. Proceeds benefit Saving Grace. (Tickets | 4pm–9:30pm📍Craft Kitchen & Brewery, 62988 Layton Ave.)

High Desert Museum: Moms get free admission today. Exhibits, live animal encounters, and the new Kids Curate student art exhibition in the Desertarium Gallery are all open. (9am–5pm📍59800 S Hwy 97)

Mother's Day Weekend at Schillings Garden Market: Sunday's lineup includes food trucks, cocktails, art vendors, and two music sets: The Living Room Band (1–3pm) and Dive Bar Theology (3–5pm). Bring a blanket or low-profile lawn chair. (10am–5pm📍64640 Old Bend-Redmond Hwy)

Moms! Makers! Mimosas! Café des Chutes and The Workhouse are co-hosting at the Old Bend Ironworks: brunch and mimosas from Café des Chutes, a vintage market with Gathered Wares and Articles of Thrift, pop-ups from Tumbleweed Finds and Dora's Closet, and handmade goods from studio artists. Free to attend. (10am📍Old Bend Ironworks, 50 SE Scott St.)

Mother's Day Market @ The Bite: Annual market at The Bite in Tumalo with brunch specials and a solid vendor lineup: Silver Anchor Designs, Linx Permanent Jewelry, Badley Farms Soaps, Lisa Locke Ceramics, Flourish Flowers, and more. Free to attend. (More info | 11am📍19860 7th St, Tumalo)

🛼 With A Child: Skate And 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, plus a play area with mats and balls on the rink.

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

Drop in and let your kiddo loose on open-ended paint and sensory stations. Completely child-led, as messy as they want to get, and all the cleanup stays at the studio!

🔢 Kids' Math Assessments And Games With Mathnasium
3pm–5pm • Ages 6–13 • Free • More info
📍Redmond Library (827 SW Deschutes Ave., Redmond)

Free math assessments for elementary or middle schooler from the Mathnasium of Bend team, with personalized guidance on next steps. Homework help, games, prizes, and snacks will also be available!

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

Kids move through yoga, rhythmic drumming, and storytime before settling into a sound bath in this class with Trebled Souls designed to support emotional regulation and focus.

🔥 Poi Class
4pm–5pm • Ages 13–18 • More info
📍OAC Teen Center (999 NE 2nd St.)

Spin LED poi with Bridget from the High Desert Fire Artists. No flames, just flow, movement, and style.

🌸 With A Child: May Flowering Basket
5pm–6pm • Ages 6–12 • Register
📍Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market Rd.)

Celebrate spring by learning to make a fresh flower arrangement together to take home.

🎲 Game Night At The Museum
6:30pm–9pm • Family-friendly • More info
📍High Desert Museum (59800 S Hwy. 97)

Play historic High Desert gambling games like Faro and Keno alongside contemporary favorites, with food and drinks available to keep the night going. Think saloon-era game night, held at the Museum. Children under 16 are welcome with an adult.

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

Open skate with Friday night dance vibes. This week is Pajama Party night, so wear your PJs and get ready to roll!

🐦 Mama + Baby Birds
9am–11am • Ages 4–10 • Register
📍Camp Polk Meadow Preserve (Sisters)

Wander Hindman Springs looking for birds and nests while learning how mama and daddy birds care for their babies. Easy 1-mile gravel trail, bring binoculars if you have them!

📚 Storytime With Sloth!
10am–11am • All ages • Free • More info
📍Paulina Springs Books (252 W Hood Ave., Sisters)

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

🎨 Kids Club: Flower Stamped Card And Thumbprint Necklace
10am–12pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Michaels (63485 N Hwy. 97)

A drop-in craft session where kids can make a flower-stamped card and a thumbprint necklace (perfect for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift!)

🎬 With A Child: Claymation Movie Making
10am–12:30pm • Ages 5–15 • Register
📍Steller Jay Creative Learning (369 NE Revere Ave. Ste 107)

Design clay characters and bring them to life together with stop-motion animation. Everyone gets to take home digital copies of their finished films.

🦉 Stories And Owl Pellet Dissection With Think Wild
10:30am–11:30am • Ages 6–11 • Free • More info
📍Sisters Library (110 N Cedar St., Sisters)

Dig into an owl pellet dissection with Think Wild (cracking apart the compressed bones and fur that owls spit up after a meal) then hear stories from their team about rescuing and rehabilitating native wildlife.

🎉 Bend Children's Festival
11am–3pm • All ages • Free (with some ticket activities)
📍Drake Park (777 NW Riverside Blvd.)

Bounce houses, a parkour obstacle course, face painting, fairy hair, a DJ, lawn games, and food vendors for this all-day kids' festival benefiting Desert Sky Montessori. The centerpiece is Bend's largest Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament, with prizes across age divisions. Free admission; some activities $1-$5, RPS tournament entry $10, all-day jump pass $15.

🏃 Happy Little Kids Run
12pm • Ages 3–10 • Register
📍Riverbend Park (799 SW Columbia St.)

Kids ages 3-10 join the Happy Girls Run festivities with their own age-appropriate distances, a bib number, finisher ribbon, and treats from COPA, finishing alongside all the fun of the post-race party. A great excuse to make a running weekend out of it for the whole family.

🎭 Newsies
2pm & 7pm • All ages • Tickets
📍Caldera High School (60925 SE 15th St.)

Catch Caldera High's production of Disney's Newsies featuring a 60-student cast, live orchestra, and a massive student-built set.

♻️ Rubbish Renewed Eco Fashion Show
5:30pm–10pm • Family-friendly • Tickets
📍The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Way)

Student designers from 14 local Bend schools hit the runway in wearable art made entirely from reclaimed and repurposed materials, alongside a live auction and pop-up marketplace from local artists. Ticket sales benefit REALMS.

🏛️ HDM Mother's Day
9am–5pm • All ages • Free for moms • More info
📍High Desert Museum (59800 S Hwy. 97)

Moms & mother-figures get free admission today! Check out indoor and outdoor exhibits, live animal encounters, and the new Kids Curate student art exhibition in the Desertarium Gallery.

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

Dusty and Stacia from YOUNI Movement are hosting their signature high-energy bingo fundraiser at Silver Moon Brewing, with this round's proceeds going to Cascade School of Music. Family-friendly and rowdy in the best way.

🏺 Fun with Clay: Animal Wall Pockets
11am–1pm • Ages 5–15 • Register
📍Harmon Park Clay Studio (1100 NW Harmon Blvd.)

Build animal-shaped wall pockets out of clay and finish them with bright, colorful glazes.

🎭 The Secret Garden — BEAT Children's Theatre
1pm • All ages • Tickets
📍 Open Space Event Studios (220 NE Lafayette Ave)

Mary Lennox arrives at a gloomy manor, finds a walled garden locked for years, and meets Dickon, the gardener's apprentice who can talk to animals. BEAT's student cast performs this non-musical classic at Open Space with a stunning set of real flowers. (Additional showtimes available, click “Tickets” to see them all.)

💛 Be Mindful Bend Fundraiser
1pm–3:30pm • All ages • Free • More info
📍Discovery Park (NW Crossing)

Build Mom a bouquet and join an optional family-friendly circuit workout, all organized by the youth-led nonprofit Be Mindful Bend. Proceeds support their Malawi Farm Project and first-ever Youth-Led Project Grant.

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

Family skate with the skatepark features open too. Roller skates, blades, skateboards, and scooters all welcome.

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

🌙 Parents' Night Out
Friday • 5–9pm • Ages 2–8 • Register
📍Play Theory Cafe (2221 NE 3rd St.)

Drop your kids off for an evening of play while you get a Friday night out. Dinner is 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.

🧘 Peace In Parenthood: Soundbath And Workshop
Saturday • 6–8pm • Parent event • More info
📍Namaspa Yoga & Massage (1135 NW Galveston Ave.)

A workshop for parents craving more steadiness and less reactivity, combining mindset tools and nervous system practices with a closing restorative sound bath.

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