CALENDAR

Creativity abounds! Pumpkin painting at the Bend Fall Festival.

MOM FRIENDLY – This weekly support group invites all new moms or moms-to-be to join in. There are lactation consultants and other moms to help answer questions and get some social support. All are welcome, including partners and siblings, no matter how you are feeding your baby. Check Facebook for updates as space may be limited while COVID-19 precautions are in place. Thursdays 1-3pm at Central Oregon Locavore and Tuesdays Noon-2pm at the Redmond St. Charles Women’s Center.

Tuesdays in August Ninja Elite

PLAY – Kids (age 8 - 12) increase your athletic performance through the exciting sport of Ninja Warrior! Through focus and determination, we will coach you through the three main components of Ninja Warrior: gymnastics, groundbased obstacles and rock climbing. The wide variety of Ninja challenges will keep you guessing and improving! 5:15pm. Free Spirit Yoga + Fitness + Play | $72 Freespiritbend.com

EXPLORE – Rain or shine, this outdoor market will be open all season long offering fresh fruits, veggies and local treats. Make this a weekly stop! 2-6pm, through Oct. 16. Downtown Bend | Free Bendfarmersmarket.com

PLAY-TIME – Join Amelia Airheart Monkey and Miss Hannah for a fun and uplifting interactive Zoom puppet show! All ages welcome, those three and under should be accompanied by a sibling or parent/caregiver to assist with interaction. Message ACORN School of Art & Nature on Facebook to request the Zoom link. 4-4:15pm Online | Free Facebook.com/acornartandnature

EXPLORE – The Museum has carved out a special time for visitors who wish to continue visiting in a mask-only environment! Simply show up and pay regular admission. Face coverings will be required during this window in all indoor galleries. Visitors may remove their face coverings while outdoors. 8:30-10:30am

Photo by Brian Becker

High Desert Museum | $5 Highdesertmuseum.org/mask- up-mornings

EXPLORE – Experience the bounty of the growing season at the Sisters Farmers Market this year. Shop for fresh produce and local goods every week. 11am2pm, through Oct. 3. Fir Street Park | Free Sistersfarmersmarket.com

August 21 & 28 Bird Walk

EXPLORE – Join Tom Lawler, expert local birder and nature photographer, to discover the rich bird habitats of Sunriver. Learn to identify a variety of species found in the wetlands, meadows and forests surrounding the Nature Center. Sundays, 8-11am. Sunriver Nature Center | $10 snco.org/events/2021-08

CREATE – Have some fun making pastries. Have your child (age 7-17) join in this hands-on camp where they will learn to make Croissants, Puff Pastry, and Danish from scratch. These doughs are very challenging unless you know the proper techniques for them. MondayThursday, 11am-2pm. Kindred Creative Kitchen | $200 thekindredcreativekitchen.com/ calendar

LEARN – Explore fan fiction writing as a way to keep your favorite stories alive. Whether you wished a book had ended differently, or just love the characters, this is for you. Together we'll explore the many forms of fan fiction and find some inspiration. Attend online or inperson! Thursday, 4-5pm. Downtown Bend Library | Free deschuteslibrary.org/calendar

Who’s up for a nature walk? Join Deschutes Land Trust September 18 at the Metolius Reserve.

EXPLORE – Browse the Erickson Aircraft Collection for free, which houses the largest privately owned collection of vintage Warbirds in the world. They will also host a vintage and antique Car Show and Aircraft Fly-In Show. Families can experience glider and helicopter rides, enjoy Friday fireworks, sample great food, live music and so much more! Friday, 2-10pm & Saturday, 9am-5pm. Madras Municipal Airport | $6-$20 cascadeairshow.com

LEARN – Celebrate Drake Park’s centennial with a guided tour along the iconic Mirror Pond. After a short walk from the Deschutes Historical Museum the tour weaves through the park, exploring the history and happenings that has made Bend’s first city park the “Soul of the City.” The tour is less than a mile of walking, beginning at the Deschutes Historical Museum and ending in Drake Park. Saturday, 2:30-3:30pm. Deschutes Historical Museum | $5 deschuteshistory.org/events

MOVE – Swim, bike run, as a family! The swimming portion of this non-timed event will be held in the safety of the supervised Olympic Pool. The mountain biking and running portions will be held in Juniper Park. The event focuses on family participation. Mom, Dad and other adults, are encouraged to support their kids. Cheer from pool side and next to the bike course or even run with your kids to the finish line. All abilities welcome. 8:30-11:30am. Juniper Swim and Fitness | $30-$36 Register.bendparksandrec.org

ARTS & CRAFTS – Enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon of art! A guided acrylic painting experience. Each pair of painters will receive a canvas to create an image and when placed together will turn into one masterpiece. Each registration includes a parent and a child. Sunday, 12:30-2pm.

Experience the beauty of traditional Hawaiian dancing at Sam Johnson Park in Redmond September 8.

Art Station | $45-$54 Register.bendparksandrec.org

EXPLORE – Held in Downtown Bend, the historic core and heart of the City. Join hundreds of other locals and visitors in celebrating art the first Friday of every month in Downtown Bend! This is the last art walk of the season! Friday, 5-8pm. Downtown Bend | Free Bendfirstfridayartwalk.com

DANCE – Redmond’s very own traditional Hawaiian Dancers are back and are always a crowd favorite! This high energy troop will showcase traditional Hawaiian Island dance and drumming. Come join us as we say Aloha to summer in the true Hawaiian style. Wednesday, 6pm. Sam Johnson Park | Free redmondsummerconcerts.com

EXPLORE – Tickets are now on sale for The Great Drake Park Duck Race, marking the 32nd consecutive year of businesses and community members raising much-needed funds for local charities. Sunday, times TBA. Drake Park | $5 Theduckrace.com

Begins September 14 Family Story Time

READ – Interactive story time with books, songs and rhymes. Join us for stories, songs and rhymes designed to support early literacy skill development, social emotional awareness and family engagement. Days and times vary depending on location. Deschutes Public Libraries | Free deschuteslibrary.org/calendar

PLAY – Healing Reins invites you to join a gala experience like no-other. Just think, a sociallydistanced Picnic in our Paddock that includes all of your favorite traditional Diamonds & Dust gala activities. Dancing, live music, drinks, great food, friends and of course an auction and paddle raise! All while you are surrounded by fresh outdoor air, beautiful scenic mountain landscapes and roaming horses in the pasture! Saturday, times TBA. Healing Reins | Tickets on sale Aug. 2 healingreins.org/diamonds-dust

EXPLORE – Bring the kids and join the Deschutes Land Trust and Mary Yanalcanlin of East Cascades Audubon Society

for a fall nature exploration! Explore the pine forests of the Metolius Preserve and search for woodpeckers and the obvious signs they leave behind. Discover why birds are harder to find at this time of year and enjoy the fall colors of the changing season. Perfect for kids ages 4-10 with a grown-up in tow. Saturday, 1-3pm. Metolius Preserve | Free deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes-events

LEARN – Learn to recognize tracks of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates on your landscape, and to interpret animal movement and behavior. This explorative practice reveals a hidden world of wildlife sign and develops the ability to find subtle evidence of animal presence. Thursday & Friday, 8am-4pm. Local Location TBA | $275 southsoundnatureschool.org

LEARN – Learn more about our “Riverhood” and River Neighbor ecology in this one-hour walk guided by Think Wild experts. Join the small group for socially distanced walks along the Deschutes River to learn about the wildlife along this riverscape and the benefits of beaver in our riparian ecosystems. This short, informative walk is family friendly and free! Sunday, 8-10am. Old Mill District | Free Thinkwildco.org/events

CONNECT – Get ready for some fall fun! The 2021 First Interstate Bank Bend Fall Festival is back and better than ever. Celebrate autumn in Central Oregon with a Harvest Market, Kid’s play zone and fun run! Friday, 5-10pm, Saturday, 11am-10pm and Sunday, 11am-5pm. Downtown Bend | Free admission Bendfallfestival.com

LISTEN – All the town will once again be a stage when the festival returns in 2021 after a COVID-19 hiatus! This year will feature seven venues all over town, including Sisters Art Works, Village Green, the Open Door, Oliver Lemon's (formerly Melvin's) and more. Friday-Sunday. Various Venues | $85 - $200 sistersfolkfestival.org

EXPLORE – Let your little one's imagination run wild! Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Martha Lussenhop at the Metolius Preserve to build your own fairy house. Use materials found in the forest, create your own small fairy abode and imagine the fairies that might come visit. Build confidence exploring and enjoying nature. Perfect for kids ages 3-5 with a grown-up in tow. Saturday, 1-3pm. Metolius Preserve | Free deschuteslandtrust.org/hikes-events

Photo by Tom Lawler, Courtesy of the Sunriver Nature Center

Learn to identify local bird species at Sunriver Nature Center August 21 & 28. October 10 Beat Beethoven’s 5th 5K & 1 Mile Race

MOVE – Can you run the 5k faster that it takes Beethoven's 5th Symphony to end - 33 minutes? There's also a one-mile walk, a free kids' obstacle course, food/ drink, costume contest and Beethoven himself will be running the 5k. Virtual race also available. Sunday, 9am-Noon. COCC | $20-30 Beatbeethoven5k.com

LEARN – There is no question that fall colors are a force to be reckoned with in Central Oregon. Join Toni Toreno, professional photographer and lover of fall, who will take you on an autumn photo trek that’s sure to leave you will some epic photos to take home with you! Sunday, 1-8pm. Box Factory | $249 Bendphototours.com/fall-foliageworkshop

August 26 & September 2 Movies in the Park

FILM – Come together with neighbors and friends at your local park for movie night two Thursday evenings. Bring chairs and water or a full picnic. “Zootopia” will be playing August 26 at Kiwanis Park and “Onward” will play September 2 at Ponderosa Park. Everyone is welcome! Movie starts at dark around 8pm. Kiwanis Park/Ponderosa Park | Free Bendparkandrec.org

FILM – Get ready Bend! Teton Gravity Research is returning to the Tower Theatre for the winter kick-off party of the year. Get hyped for winter with their new feature length ski and snowboard film, “Stoke the Fire.” Choose between the family-friendly matinee at 3:30 pm, the early evening show at 6:15pm or the late show at 9pm. There will be prizes from YETI, Atomic, Volkl, The North Face, Sierra Nevada and more. Children 10 and under are free with an adult. Tower Theater | $11-19.50 Towertheatre.org