Fun things to do with kids

 

Regal Summer Movie Express

The Regal Summer Movie Express is a great way to enjoy a morning movie with other families at a great price. This summer enjoy $1 movies on Tuesday and Wednesdays at 10am. Pick a hot day, pack up the kids and watch a kid's movie in an air conditioned theater at Regal Cinemas with a large tub of popcorn. 

Movie Schedule: June 19-20: Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G) and Journey 2 (PG); June 26-27: Dolphin Tale (PG) and Happy Feet 2 (PG).

July 3-4: Legend of the Guardians (PG) and Yogi Bear (PG): July 10-11 Cats & Dogs: Revenge (PG) and Hugo (PG); July 17-18: Adventures of Tin Tin (PG) and Puss inn Boots (PG); July 24-25: Kung Fu Panda 2 (PG) and Rango (PG); July 31-August 1: Spy Kids: All the Time (PG) and Rio (G).

August 7-8: Hoodwinded Too (PG) and Chimpanzee (G); August 14-15: Arthur Christmas (PG) and Smurfs (PG).

 

Art Station

Art Station’s summer day camps for kids begin June 18 with early childhood classes for kids 2-6, clay classes for kids 6-12, and even a kids’ belly dance class for 8-12 year olds. Classes for young adults in film making, drawing, digital photography, and wheel throwing will be offered on Fridays in June and July. 

 

Birding & Binoculars

The Old Mill District and the East Cascades Audubon Society have teamed up to create a free beautifully illustrated list of birds that are native to the Bend area. Spotting birds from the list while spending time on local trails, rivers and parks is just another way to enjoy all the wonderful wildlife the region has to offer. 

 

 

 

Kids Rock the Race

New this year is a Kids Rock the Races passport program.  At each of the five races, kids will have the opportunity to earn prizes for participation. The five races are: Salmon Fry Run on May 5; Happy Little Kids on May 26; Mini Duel in the Desert Run on June 2; Kids Splash & Dash on July 14 and Balloons Blast Kids Race on July 21.

Kids receive their passport and stamp after each race at the information booth. Prizes will be awarded for kids entering a minimum of two races. Prizes include an REI gift bag (4 races) and other great gifts for kids.Visit Lay It Out Events for more information and to register for each race. Fees vary by race and a portion of proceeds go to local charities.

 

Happy Little Kids

The Happy Little Kids is a non-competitive run for kids from 3 to 10 years old on Saturday, May 26. The run begins at 1:30pm. This is a non-competitive event for boys and girls to get outside and have fun! 100% of the proceeds from the Happy Little Kids Run are going to The KIDS Center.  Three age-appropriate distances are available and one of five Kids Rock the Races this summer.

 

REI Camping Basics Classes & Great American Backyard Campout

Prepare for a family camping trip by taking one of REI’s free classes. Upcoming classes include: Camping Basics (May 27), Camp Cooking Basics (June 5) and Family Camping Basics (June 12). Visit REI Bend to register and for additional classes over the summer.  The Great American Backyard Campout is a nationwide event organized by National Wildlife Federation on Saturday, June 23. Join thousands of other families and set up a tent in your own backyard for a night of fun and adventure.

 

REI Family Adventure Hike

The Family Adventure Program is a hike at Shevlin Park on Monday, May 28 at 10am. See wildlife, look for animal tracks and enjoy hands on educational activities. Children will receive an REI Family Adventure Journal with tips on family activities, hiking trails, games and more.Visit REI Bend for more information.

 

Little Commuters Parade 

The Little Commuters Parade is a kid’s kick-off to Commute Options Week in the Westside Parking Lot in the Old Mill District on Saturday, June 16.  Decorate your bike, learn bike safety and join the parade over the footbridge, through the shops and circle back along the river trail. Decorate your bike, wagon, big wheel, scooter or unicycle with fresh flowers, arts & crafts and ribbon.  Bike decorating is from 8:30-9:45am and the parade will start at approximately 9:45am at the footbridge. (Helmets are required and no motorized vehicles.) 

 

Bite of Bend

The Bite of Bend will be Saturday-Sunday, June 23-24, taking over the streets of downtown Bend.The weekend festivities offer live music, many local food vendors, a kid’s play area and a marketplace with samples of fresh fabulous foods. The Bite of Bend highlights some of the best Oregon food, wine and beer of the region. 

 

Hullabaloo

The NorthWest Crossing Hullabaloo street festival takes place on Friday, June 29, and includes live music, roving street performers, food vendors, face painting, arts & crafts for the kids.  There will be kid’s criterium bike races starting at 3:30pm for boys and girls ages 12 and under. The Criterium  for men and women kicks off immediately afterwards. 

Kids Splash & Dash

The Kids Splash & Dash on Saturday, July 14 is an event that’s all-out fun for the kids with an athletic obstacle course, water slide and pools for children ages 3-10 years old. The race begins with a climb up inflatable stairs, down a big slide and into a pool of water! The Kid’s Splash & Dash is one of the five Kids Rock the Races.

 

Balloons Over Bend and Children’s Festival

Balloons Over Bend will be Friday-Sunday, July 20-22, at Riverbend Park. The hot air balloons launch each morning at 6am.  Join us for the Night Glow on Saturday at dusk to see colorful hot air balloons glow brightly against the night sky. The Children’s Festival runs from 10am-6pm on Saturday, July 21, with more than 60 activities including crafts, educational opportunities, face painting, rock climbing, bouncy houses, water toys and numerous game booths.  The festival is free and activities range in price with all proceeds benefiting Saving Grace.

 

Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe Yak-A-Tak Kids Camps

Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe is offering kids Standup Paddleboarding Camp (July 16-19 and August 13-16), Whitewater Camp (July 23-26 and August 20-23) and Flatwater Camp (August 6-9 and August 27-30). Tumalo Creek will teach kids to kayak and SUP in a fun and safe environment.  Ages 8-16, all transportation and gear included. Cost is $295.

 

Deschutes County Fair

The Deschutes County Fair runs August 1-5, in Redmond. The Deschutes County Fair offers lots of great family-friendly entertainment including 4-H farm animals, the rodeo, the Family-Fun Zone and carnival rides.  Hoping to catch the cowboys riding the bucking broncos?  Rodeo performances are free with admission on a first come first serve basis.  Stroll through the barns and see the goats, pigs and bunnies and many more animals raised by local kids.

The Family Fun Zone includes a hula hoop contest, wheelbarrow races, sack races, a cupcake walk, watermelon contest and much more.  Stop by and enjoy the water balloon toss, watch the pig races or try the kid’s pedal-tractor pull. The Petting Zoo and the Pony Rides are also nearby. The Talent Show stage offers magicians, jugglers, and music and dance performances each day.

The Deschutes County Fair is open Wednesday-Thursday 10am-10pm, Friday-Saturday from 10am-11pm and Sunday 10am-5pm. Visit Deschutes Co. Fair for more information.

 

High Desert Museum

Smokey Bear & Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home (May 11-September 16)  Children and families discover how to care for natural resources and their environment with two classic American icons. An exhibition of hands-on activities while learning to protect forest ecosystems. Kids Curate (May 26 - July 29) An exhibition of local kid’s art inspired by artifacts from the Museum’s collection. The artwork created is the culmination of a yearlong project with fourth and fifth graders in Bend.

Live animal programs A live badger, porcupine, reptile and raptor are among the animals you may meet close up.  Discover a river otter at the pond habitat and uncover these animals’ role in the environment. Raptors of the Desert Sky Hawks, owls and other raptors soar overhead in our forest.  Living History Enter the year 1904 and join the Miller family tending the garden and working at the sawmill. Visit the High Desert Museum for a full list of exhibitions and daily programs.

 

The Nature of Words

NOW’s Storefront Project offers theme-based creative writing workshops on a drop-in basis at no charge on Monday and Thursday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Special classes for youth and adults offered throughout the year. Upcoming events include NOW’s Bookplate annual auction and festival author announcement on June 28 at Atelier 6000. Week of Words writing camp for kids ages 8-11 runs July 18-20 from 1-3pm for $125. Nature of Words Literary Arts Center is located downtown (224 NW Oregon Avenue).

 

Cascade Center of Photography

Cascade Center of Photography offers numerous photography classes for youth and adults as well as a weekly photo walk of Bend on Mondays at 10am, meet at Visit Bend (750 Lava). The two hour class ($65 family of four) is a guided tour with professional photographers exploring downtown, our historic district, parks and rivers of Bend.

 

Deschutes Library

The Deschutes Public Library will offer children’s story times (June 11- August 18). Downtown Bend offers Baby Steps (Mondays at 10:15am and Wednesdays at 11:30am) Toddlin’ Tales (Tuesdays at 10:15am and 11am, and Wednesdays at 10:15am) and Preschool Parade (Tuesdays at 1:30pm and Fridays at 10:30am). East Bend Library offers Toddlin Tales (Wednesdays at 9:30am), Preschool Parade (Wednesdays at 11:00am) and Saturday Stories at 10am (all ages).

Baby Steps offers 15 min. of gentle stories, songs and nursery rhymes (ages 0-18 mo.) Toddlin’ Tales provides 25 min. of early literacy-based stories, movement rhymes and songs (ages 18 -36 mo.) Preschool Parade is 30 min. of early literacy-based stories, songs, rhymes and occasional crafts (ages 3-5 yrs.). Visit Deschutes Library for a full list of story times throughout the year.

Cascade School of Music

Cascade School of Music offers a range of musical lessons (Kindermusik, singing, guitar, flute, chamber music, jazz, school of rock) and much more for a range of kids ages (Infant- 6 years, 4-6, 6-9, 8-9, 10-14, etc.).  Summer classes, camps, workshops and private classes available for kids, youth and adults at Cascade School of Music.

 

Bend Park & Recreation District

Bend Park & Recreation District offers numerous classes and camp for kids, youth and adults throughout the year.  Over the summer looks for a range of classes including Circus Camp, KPOV Radio Camp, Recycle Trash to Treasures at Sara Bella, numerous youth sports classes and much more for a range of ages.

Free Summer Programs include Magic in the Parks from 1:00-3:30pm at Orchard Park (Mondays & Wednesdays, June 25-August 15), Harmon Park (Tuesday & Thursdays, June 26-August 16) and at Al Moody Park (Fridays, July 29-August 17) for kids ages 4-10 years. Treehouse Puppets in the Parks runs from 11:00-12 noon on Thursdays, July 12-August 30 at various parks in Bend.  Visit Bend Park & Recreation District for more information on these free programs and a full list of summer camps.