Offbeat attractions you shouldn’t miss on your Bend vacation
April 25, 2024
7 minute readBend’s art scene is as diverse as its natural environment. It’s home to nationally recognized artists, musicians, filmmakers, painters, writers, and much more. Enjoy art galleries, live music, theater, and cinema. Learn about the area’s history and natural wonders. Celebrate year-round while attending a long list of Bend’s events and festivals.
Revel in Bend’s art scene the first Friday of each month during First Friday Art Walk. Live music fills the streets as shops and art galleries stay open late to showcase artists and their work. Festivities in Downtown Bend get underway at 5 p.m., but if you want an earlier start, the galleries in the Old Mill District kick things off at 3 p.m. That means you can browse Old Mill hotspots before heading downtown to nab dinner and enjoy some more art hopping. When you’re downtown, take a walk through one of downtown Bend’s many alleys, which contains a world-class collection of local art work as part of the Tin Pan Alley art collection.
If performing arts are your passion, Bend has plenty to offer. Take in a show at the historic Tower Theatre, or groove to live music from groups ranging from Dave Matthews Band to Norah Jones at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater during the summer and early fall. If live theater is your scene, in addition to the Tower Theatre, seek out the current performances and events at Cascades Theatrical Company, The Greenhouse Cabaret, Open Space Event Studio, and BEAT Children’s Theatre.
Depending on your taste, check out the Central Oregon Symphony or High Desert Chamber Music for music that makes your heart sing. Looking for live jazz in Bend, Oregon? From fall through spring, the Oxford Hotel in downtown Bend, becomes a swanky jazz club, bringing world-class musicians to an intimate setting through their Jazz at the Oxford program. More casual music and live event venues around town include the Volcanic Theatre Pub and the Midtown Ballroom.
Performing arts venues in Bend
Tower Theatre
The Tower Theatre, formerly a movie theater, and redesigned as a state-of-the-art performing arts hall, you will find an impressive offering of events, concerts, comedy, movies, and much more.
Hayden Homes Amphitheater
The Hayden Homes Amphitheater is an outdoor riverfront venue built across from the historic Old Mill District in 2001. Nestled along the Deschutes River, it’s the perfect place to catch a summer sunset while enjoying one of the fifty-plus concerts during the summer and early fall.
Cascades Theatrical Company
Founded in 1978, Cascades Theatrical Company is the oldest community theater in Central Oregon, and it is the only volunteer-based theater in Bend. The regular season runs September through May.
BEAT Children’s Theatre
BEAT enriches and transforms the lives of young people through performing arts.
The Greenhouse Cabaret
Central Oregon’s newest semi-professional theater offering a limited number of productions focusing on diverse stories and performances in a safe environment for queer performers and allies.
Open Space Event Studios
Open Space Event Studios is a multi-modal rental and collaborative space that hosts a variety of arts, business, and cultural events.
Central Oregon Symphony
Providing community-based orchestra music to Central Oregon since 1967, the Central Oregon Symphony is proud to offer fall, winter, and spring concert series each year.
High Desert Chamber Music
High Desert Chamber Music brings world-class chamber music and musicians to Central Oregon. Through concert series and educational outreach programs, HDCM aspires to heighten a level of appreciation, awareness, and understanding of classical music.
Jazz at the Oxford Hotel
The Jazz at the Oxford series each fall and winter, presents jazz musicians from near and far. The weekend series offer many showtime options.
Volcanic Theatre Pub
Volcanic Theatre Pub provides a unique artistic venue in a cozy, intimate space furnished with sofas, recliners, and table seating. Events include live music, plays, and films throughout the year.
Midtown Ballroom, Domino Room, and Annex
These three, connected spaces are Bend’s largest indoor venue. Frequent, year-round shows include local and national music talent:
- The Midtown Ballroom—largest of the three spaces
- The Domino Room—mid-sized space with 21+ only bar upstairs overlooking the stage/floor
- The Annex—smallest of the three spaces upstairs overlooking the Midtown Ballroom, 21+
