BEND, OR -- Temperatures are rising, the tourists are coming and events are stacking up on the calendar; summer must be right around the corner. Happy Girls kicked off a full slate of races last weekend, in Bend. Conquer the Canyon returns to Redmond June 8th. Aaron Switzer, with Lay it Out Events, says there’s a half marathon, 10K, 5K, and a new 5K doggie dash, "It’s a very cool course. It’s the reason that we got pulled up to doing the event. So, we start on the street, under the Redmond arch. It’s a very cool start place, and it runs into the Dry Canyon and around the Dry Canyon." He tells KBND News, "They’ve got a beautiful park up there. If you haven’t taken a moment to hike in Dry Canyon, it’s incredible. It’s where the river used to flow. We run down and back it, and back into town for a little party afterwards."
June 21st and 22nd, Bend's Alpenglow Park hosts the new Big Bend Barbecue. "Some people may remember the bond the Parks passed to create this event park down south, to kind of diversify where events are happening in our community. Well, we are stepping up to the plate and going to do a barbecue event down there," says Switzer, "It’s very family friendly. Bring your picnic blanket and there will be five to six different barbecue people; you’ll be able to sample them all, get a tasty beverage, listen to some music."
Of course, the traditional favorites are back. Switzer says Bend Summer Festival is one of the most popular; it returns July 12th through the 14th. "Everybody in the community gets to come to downtown and walk the streets. There’s art vendors from all over the region, music going all day and night. A ton of fun and a great way to celebrate living in the community during the middle of the year." More than 80 regional and national artisans will display their works this year, "We do a jury now for the art. It’s pretty sought after, just because - as you know, the community’s affluence is raised, so there’s more commerce going on and artists are doing better down there, which is great. And, you’re getting a better quality of art."
Balloons Over Bend (pictured) is July 26-28 and in August, Theater in the Park returns to Drake Park, with Mamma Mia. Click HERE for more information.