P L AY
GET CULTURED If artists are inspired by breathtaking natural beauty, it’s no wonder Bend has one of the most vibrant art scenes in the Pacif ic Northwest. The city is home to nationally-recognized artists, musicians, f ilmmakers, painters, writers, and much more. Enjoy movie theaters, museums, art galleries, and dinner theater throughout the year. Bend is also home to countless festivals and events happening every single month of the year. From the Bend A Cappella Festival in February to the free Munch & Music concert series in Drake Park every summer to the BendFilm Festival in October, you can get your arts and culture f ix year round in Bend. Revel in Bend’s art scene the f irst Friday of each month during First Friday Art Walk. Live music f ills the streets as shops and art galleries stay open late to showcase artists and their work. While you’re downtown, take a walk through one of the many alleys, which contain a world-class collection of local artwork as part of the Tin Pan Alley Art Collection. For an awesome guided tour of Bend’s public arts scene, call John Flannery of The Bend Tour Company and book a Bend Art Safari tour. You’ll get plenty of laughs from your expert guide, not to mention intimate knowledge of Bend’s art scene.
For more live music, get your groove on at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. The venue has attracted artists including Paul Simon, The Avett Brothers, Jack Johnson, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews Band, Norah Jones, and many more. Popular shows sell out during the summer, so get your tickets early at bendconcerts.com, then show up and get your groove on beside the sparkling Deschutes River. Want a different sort of music to make your heart sing? Check out OperaBend or High Desert Chamber Music and get your culture f ix while you’re here. If live jazz is your thing, don’t miss Jazz at the Oxford in Bend’s swanky Oxford Hotel happening October through March. Pro tip: Shows sell out fast, so buy tickets well in advance. Ever f ind yourself saying, “This art would be awesome if only I had otters a few feet away?” The High Desert Museum has you covered! While folks know them best as a place to check out wildlife and natural history, they’re also home to a vast collection of Native American art, along with rotating cultural exhibits and sculptures scattered around the campus. Want to know more about the various arts organizations that make all this awesome art possible in Bend? Check out Art in Public Places. You can also read up on the Bend Cultural Tourism Fund (BCTF), which is a grant program dedicated to enhancing the local economy through the promotion and cultivation of Bend’s cultural tourism programs
If you’re visiting Bend in August, don’t miss Art in the High Desert on the banks of the Deschutes River in the Old Mill District. Central Oregon’s premier juried f ine art and craft show showcases more than 100 artists from around the country and Canada.
Oh, and if you ever f ind yourself in Bend during the month of October, be sure to check out all of the independent arts and cultural events happening during 10th Month. Find out more at tenthmonthbend.com.
If performing arts are your passion, take in a show at the historic Tower Theatre, which features everything from concerts to plays to classic f ilms. The venue is a 1940s Art Deco Moderne theater that was fully rennovated in 2004 to become Bend’s premier stage. You can even rent the space for major events and conventions.
V I S I T B E N D. CO M / A R T S
Bend, OR Visitor Guide