5 Fun Bend Activities You Can Enjoy This Thanksgiving and Christmas Season

Thanksgiving and Christmas Season are surely the holidays that Bend families have been waiting for all year ’round. The cheery vibes, colorful lights, snow and just love spreading among people — I mean, who wouldn’t love holidays right? Winter time in Bend gives you a whole new playground where you can enjoy and explore new activities. So here’s a list of 5 fun and awesome activities that you and your family can enjoy in Bend this yuletide season!

Christmas Tree Hunting

This is I think the no. 1 family tradition that Bendites couldn’t get enough of every Christmas. What’s more fun and exciting than cutting your very own Christmas tree together with your family, right?

If you’re cutting down a tree of your own, then Bend will be the right place to go to. National forests surround us, making it accessible and easy. The Deschutes National Forest is full of white and grand firs that make perfect Christmas trees. The common ones being used as Christmas trees are Douglas-fir, White fir, Incense Cedar and sometimes, Lodgepole and Ponderosa Pines. With a simple permit purchase and a little planning, you’ll be bringing home a Christmas tree of your own.

Check this article from Bend Magazine to know more about which type of tree suits your family perfectly and how to pull off this fun tradition smoothly.

Ice Skating at Seventh Mountain or the Pavilion

Another fun activity to do in Bend during the Holidays is Ice skating. Did you know that the fastest spin ever recorded for ice skating is 308 spins per minute? Woah! An average person might have his world shaking by then, but for professional ice skaters, that would be just a normal routine.

In Bend, the most famous outdoor ice skating rink is found in Seventh Mountain Resort. Imagine this: Ice skate under the cosmic lights while listening to classic skate tunes and taking in different eye-catching decorations. Sounds awesome, right? Not just that! They also offer appetizing foods from their new Outfitter Bar and Bites which hosts indoor, rink side and fireside seating. For more information on how to avail and reserve tickets, as well as the fees, visit their website.

And if the weather gets a little nasty, which happens occasionally in Bend, there’s an indoor ice skating rink that you can go to! Home to Central Oregon’s only NHL size ice sheet, The Pavilion is the best place to slide, glide, twirl and curl together according to Visit Bend.

There are plenty of ways to heat up or stay warm at The Pavilion. There’s a viewing room where you can warm up and relax by the fireplace and an outdoor plaza with a fire pit. The full-service lobby includes customer service, check-in, skate rentals and The Pavilion Cafe, which features full-service concessions, including hot drinks, yummy snacks and even meals. A local brewery is regularly on site for adult hockey and curling leagues.

Snowshoeing at Tumalo Falls

The next activity that you and your family could enjoy this yuletide season is Snowshoeing. For those who are not very familiar with this activity, Snowshoeing is a type of hiking that involves walking over snow with the assistance of footwear that displaces weight over a larger area. The type of footwear you use for snowshoeing is called snowshoes, which are designed to help the user “float” on the snow, referred to as floatation. 

The perfect place for this snowshoeing activity is at Tumalo Falls. Not only known for its breathtaking views, but Tumalo Falls is also best for those who love to do hiking and trailing, may it be during summer or winter. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing half of your life! So better check out this hiking adventure diary by Jess and Michael Snow (yup that’s their last name! How cool, right?) to know more about how fun and exciting it is to do snowshoeing at Tumalo Falls.

Gingerbread Junction at Sunriver Resort

One of the highlights of having a holiday vacation at Sunriver is the Gingerbread Function. It is one of the annual traditions that Bendites are surely looking forward to every winter season. Browse the whimsical, the functional, the sweet sugary dreamscapes created by children in the community as well as adult contest entrants.

This year, Sunriver will be having its 25th Annual Gingerbread Junction. This fun and exciting activity offers visitors a chance to view a variety of beautiful gingerbread houses artfully crafted for the event. Proceeds from “mini lot” sales for Gingerbread Junction will be donated to the Habitat for Humanity of La Pine and Sunriver. Gingerbread houses will be on display daily in the Sunriver Resort Main Lodge from December 4 through January 3, 2021. Gingerbread Junction will be available to Sunriver Resort lodging and dining guests this Holiday season. 

Starfest Holiday Light Celebration at Eagle Crest Resort

Each winter, Eagle Crest Resort hosts the Starfest Holiday Light Celebration, a night-time light display that begins on Thanksgiving and runs through New Year’s Day. This light display became a fun holiday activity with many local families here in Central Oregon.

The lights are illuminated every evening from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. along one mile (1.6 km) drive through the resort. During Starfest, Eagle Crest offers visitors hot coffee, cocoa and cookies, along with a fireside story time with Mrs. Claus. They also offer a horse-drawn wagon during the weekends for a modest fee. Reservations for Starfest wagon rides can be arranged through the Inn’s concierge.

Anyway, admission to Starfest is free, so if you haven’t been there, why not give it a try? I’m sure you and your family will love the holiday vibes brought to you by the shimmering light display.