7 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Bend, Oregon

Discover the holidays in Bend, Oregon this year! Here are the top ways to get into the festive and Christmas spirit during the most wonderful time of the year.

Top Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Bend, Oregon

Discover your new favorite holiday tradition in Bend, Oregon. During this time of year, popular areas around town like the Old Mill District and Bend’s downtown area twinkle through the night with plenty of festive holiday lights. When the snow falls, it’s nearly impossible to not get into the holiday spirit. From touring through holiday light displays, to visiting Santa Claus himself, here are 7 ways to celebrate the holidays while visiting Bend.

1) Go Ice Skating in Bend

Celebrate winter and take the family ice skating in Bend. Ice skating can become a festive and active tradition for any family, especially when local venues decorate for the holidays. Locally, check out both The Pavilion and the Seventh Mountain Resort. The Pavilion is centrally located in Bend, a convenient distance from both the Old Mill and Downtown districts. The Seventh Mountain Resort is a short drive down the Cascade Lakes Highway, nestled among tall ponderosa pines. Grab some cacao and skate the night away!

2) Hunt Down your Christmas Tree

Take part in a time-honored tradition that gets families together for old fashioned fun; cutting down your own Christmas tree. Avoid the fees and payments from a tree lot by grabbing a Christmas tree permit and setting off into the majestic Deschutes National Forest. The whole family will love the winter wonderland that the forest becomes this time of the year. Fill a thermos with some hot apple cider and pack a light lunch as you descend into the forest in search of the perfect tree. Be sure to double check the rules; they are posted on the page where you can find the link to purchase your permit.

3) Holiday Shopping

One of the major benefits to Bend (besides all the amazing food, people and nature) has to be the abundance of local shops and boutiques. For those who love supporting local, holiday shopping has never been easier. The Old Mill, Downtown, the Box Factory and many other districts have plenty of shops to peruse, perfect for anyone and everyone on your Christmas list. 

4) Winter Staycation at Waypoint, Hotel

Sometimes all you need to get into the holiday spirit is a good staycation at the Waypoint Hotel in Bend. Conveniently located off of Highway 97, this boutique hotel contains newly renovated rooms and common areas that create a cozy atmosphere for all guests; perfect for skiers coming off the mountain.

The spacious lobby features a rotating taplist of 8 different local brews and ciders, an on-site food truck and a winter necessity: roaring fire pits for folks to gather around. See the sights in Bend and beyond by making this your basecamp. 

5) Meet Santa in Bend, Oregon

For all the folks who have stayed on his nice list this year, Santa will be making multiple stops around Bend to collect all of your Christmas wishes. After the Christmas Parade, Santa can be found Downtown every Saturday until Christmas day.

In the Old Mill District, Santa can be found multiple days a week. Come visit, grab a warm drink and mingle with elves while the little ones get a picture with the man in red. Santa and his elves will be present most Fridays and weekends, but be sure to check his schedule to make sure you don’t miss out.

6) Holiday Light Experience at the Fairgrounds

Nothing really says Christmas like bright, twinkling lights that sparkle and dance through the night. Grab your family and head to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond for the Holiday Light Experience. There’s something magical about pouring up some hot cacao, loading the little ones in the car and driving through a true winter wonderland.

7) The Nutcracker at the Tower Theater

Is there any play more festive than The Nutcracker? Stop by Bend’s premier live-performance venue, the Tower Theater, for the annual rendition of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 short story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” Performed by Students of Academie de Ballet Classique, this is a performance that is sure to put anyone into a state of pure holiday nostalgia, fit with dreams of gumdrops and sugar plums. Alternatively, check out the Tower Theater website for other holiday performances that are put on later in the month.

No matter how you spend your time, the holiday season in Bend is sure to get anyone into the spirit of the season. Book your holiday vacation in Bend now, before local bookings get too full!