Yes, the kids are back in school, but summer is not over just yet. There’s plenty to see and do around Central Oregon this weekend from a big air big festival in Prineville to an outdoors sports-oriented film festival in Bend. There’s the fabulous Sisters Folk Festival, the annual duck race in Drake Park, as well as the always spirited Art Walk on Friday in Bend to keep you busy.
Great Drake Park Duck Race
Sept. 8 | Drake Park
The annual fundraiser and community celebration has raised more than $1 million for local children and families in need. It’s also handed out some amazing prizes to the owner of the lucky duck that first crosses the finish line at the Mirror Pond footbridge. This year’s top prize is a $20,000 voucher toward a new vehicle at Robberson Ford. The event, which is organized by the Bend Rotary Clubs, includes a fun zone, food, and games at Drake Park. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. and include a free kids’ race at noon. theduckrace.com
Sisters Folk Festival
Sept. 6-8 | Multiple Venues
Sisters Folk Festival is a year-round series of music events, education, and creative collaboration, but it all culminates in three epic days of live music that envelops the entire town of Sisters. Held on the first weekend after Labor Day, the eclectic gathering draws world-famous artists to the small town for a full-throated celebration of music across dozens of venues across town.
Cascadia Film Fest
Sept. 5-7 | Bend
The inaugural Cascadia Film Festival (CAFF) debuts this weekend with four film events spread across three days at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bend. The themes of climbing, biking, paddling, and trail running all are explored in multiple short films. The festival includes presentations from filmmakers and film subjects. A partnership with Wanderlust Tours also brings a series of side-trip adventures that play on the film themes. Individual ticket packages are offered for each of the sessions, so feel free to mix and match.
Doc and Connie Sustainable Lecture
Sept. 5 | High Desert Museum
The late Sisters rancher Doc Hatfield bucked the industrial ag model and pioneered the idea of sustainable ranching. He and his wife, Connie, founded the Country Natural Beef Cooperative to change the way ranchers interacted with the land and their consumers. The High Desert Museum hosts this annual lecture in his honor. This year’s guest speaker, rancher Jon Griggs, will discuss the latest ideas in sustainable ranching.
First Friday
Sept. 6 | Downtown Bend
Art. Walk. Sip. Repeat. You know the drill. Celebrate the last few days of summer at the September First Friday Art Walk in downtown Bend. Art galleries and other downtown business play host to dozens of local artists, showcasing local painting, sculpting, metal works, crafts and more.
Marzocchi Proving Grounds
Sept. 7-8 | Prineville
Bend’s Carson Storch hosts this Red Bull Rampage qualifying events at the Oregon Dirt Park in Prineville where steel nerved, big-feature riders will have a chance to show off their best and biggest tricks for a shot at the Red Bull tour. Tickets available through H5 events.
