5 Reasons to Visit the Tower Theatre this Spring
Sponsored Content: A Celebration of Contemporary Culture in an Iconic Landmark | Article originally published October 2023; updated in February 2025
Since 1940, the neon sign advertising the Tower Theatre has been an iconic symbol of downtown Bend. Drawing performers from near and far, the Tower entertains audiences with film festivals, concerts, theatrical performances, lectures, ballets and so much more. Here are five reasons to visit the Tower Theatre this spring.
The Tower turns 85 in March 2025. Located in the heart of Bend’s bustling downtown for nearly a century, the Tower Theatre is located near some of the best restaurants and bars, charming boutiques and local coffee shops. Drawing locals and visitors alike, the Tower’s diverse offerings are a perfect way to wrap up a day of outdoor adventure or an exploration of the high desert region. The shows at this historic, independent and non-franchise venue make all who attend feel the energy of the local scene, bringing cultural flair and the spirit of community to a Central Oregon visit.
Attend the Tower Theatre Anniversary Film Festival. To celebrate the Tower’s many years of entertainment, on March 1 the theater showcased films from each decade of the Tower’s “life,” beginning with Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and rounding out with Forrest Gump (1994). Plus, tickets for the festival showings are available at their historic prices, meaning you could have caught a film for as low as 25 cents!
Catch other film festivals on tour. The Tower is host to many other film festivals that tour the country and world. Attend the We Are Home Film Festival! (April 12, 2025) to learn more about the value of home, belonging and community while raising funds to directly support Central Oregonians in securing housing. Check out 4 PEAKS LIVE (June 20-22, 2025) as two powerhouse entertainment entities, 4 Peaks Presents and the Tower Theatre, bring world-class music to Bend, Oregon. And don’t miss the Fly Fishing Film Tour (March 8, 2025) for the best fly fishing films from around the world.
Enjoy orchestral sounds. For lovers of classical and contemporary music alike, make sure to grab tickets for The String Queens (April 15, 2025). This trio brings soulful sounds that span musical genres, from jazz classics to top 100 hits. The Central Oregon Youth Orchestra also returns to the Tower for their Spring 2025 concert (May 7). Hear local students as they celebrate their months and years of hard work at mastering their instruments.
Dance the night away. Bend’s nightlife gets a little lift when cover crooners and hot new bands come to town. Throw it back with So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience (March 23), a Neil Diamond tribute group who will have you swooning. Spend an evening enjoying the sultry sounds of Edna Vazquez (April 11) as she offers folk songs and originals in both Spanish and English. And groove to Americana jams from the War and Treaty (May 22), a husband and wife duo who tour the country.
About the Tower Theatre
Central Oregon’s Top Spot for Live Performances
At just 460 seats, the small size of the theater allows for shared experiences between audiences and performances alike. Audiences delight in sitting a mere 40-feet away from local celebrities and world-renowned performers. Creating an ideal “off-Broadway” vibe, the Tower is a perfect place for local theater companies like TMP/Thoroughly Modern Productions, to try out new performance ideas, produce original projects and stage scaled-down versions of larger shows.
History and Rebirth of the Tower Theatre
At its inception, the theater brought Streamline Moderne architecture to Central Oregon design, with its travertine marble imported from Italy, acoustical tiles and an avant-garde women’s lounge. For decades, the brightly lit marquee shined with Hollywood hits, Vaudeville shows, plays, dancers and musicians, enticing theater-goers with live stage performances and the allure of the silver screen.
After falling into disrepair in the 1990s, the Tower Theatre underwent a complete renovation starting in 2002 and supported by a collective fund-raising effort and the motto: “Encore! The Return of the Tower Theatre.” In 2004, the community celebrated the theater’s grand reopening, welcoming patrons with upgraded box seats, an expanded lobby with refreshments, plus state of the art sound and lighting throughout. The new design stayed true to its Art Deco Streamline-Moderne origins continuing its tradition of being a vibrant celebration of the arts and community through decades.
Vision of the Tower Theatre Foundation
The nonprofit Tower Theatre Foundation, a collaborative community organization, was created in 1997 to revitalize and manage the venue. Driven by its belief in the power of the performing arts to strengthen community, the Foundation is committed to providing events and educational programs to a diverse audience. Working with area schools and hosting non-profit organizations each year, the Foundation continues to inspire and support an appreciation for the arts.
Igniting a passion for the arts in youth is at the core of the Tower Theatre Foundation’s mission. In addition to engaging LessonPLAN programs created to captivate young audiences, the Foundation established the Doug Watson Scholarship for Performing Arts to inspire and support students as they pursue education in the arts. Honoring the legacy of Doug Watson, a local theater-enthusiast who dedicated his life to promoting the arts, the Foundation awards scholarship funds to a group of high school seniors each year, empowering them to thrive in their creative journeys.
Live like a Local
Follow the shining lights that have marked the skyline of downtown Bend for close to a century. Thriving as Central Oregon’s premiere stage since the 1940s, the iconic Tower Theatre awaits to entertain, inspire and connect all who enter its doors.
Learn more about the Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon, and be sure to get tickets to a show this year by checking out the event calendar here.
Read more about the vibrant arts and culture in Central Oregon.
