Author: Melissa Gottlieb

As the weather starts to slowly cool down after a record-hot summer, it’s time to prepare for autumn-related activities. And if you recently moved to Bend or are planning on moving to Bend in the fall, you may be wondering just what to put on your schedule for Central Oregon events. Let us help with our fall guide to everything that’s happening in and around the city: Here’s what to do in Bend during the autumn months!

Canceled Events

As the Delta variant of COVID-19 has spiked and St. Charles is overwhelmed, there have been cancellations of some fall events in Bend despite our high vaccination rates. For example, the beloved Oktoberfest will once again be delayed until the coming year. Les Schwab Amphitheater will also be requiring proof of vaccination for all events starting in September. Since these types of cancellations can happen suddenly it may be difficult to predict them, but we will be sure to keep you updated as much as possible.

1. The Bend Fall Festival

We can’t talk about fall events without mentioning the Bend Fall Festival, which is set to return for three days starting October 1st. With a festival this large, it’s no surprise that there’s a little bit of everything to find exploring its downtown location.

Multiple band stages will be offering live music with a lineup of many different genres, the large harvest market will have all sorts of goodies to buy and ingredients to help prep your favorite autumn dishes, and of course you will be able to find some of the best food trucks and beer tents in Bend. There’s also a family play zone with autumn-themed recreation for the young ones, and the traditional artist promenade featuring artisan goods from creators around the Northwest. Families may also want to get ready for the Kids Harvest Run on October 2nd, while artists will want to make note of the “art in action” event on Brooks Alley.

2. The Les Schwab Concert Series

This year the concerts at the Les Schwab Amphitheater extend well into the fall season, so it’s certainly worth checking to see if there are any concerts you’d like to attend. Artists will range from Lord Huron and Luke Bryan to My Morning Jacket and NEEDTOBREATHE – if you spot a concert you’d like to attend, start looking for tickets early!

3. BendFilm Festival

This 10-day long festival is the must-attend event of the year for movie fans, especially those hoping to catch early looks at the work of their favorite indie directors and actors, as well as learning more about the art of cinema and the latest trends inspiring the industry. If your idea of fun fall events includes a deep dive into indie films and great movie discussions, you’ll want to sign up for a pass ASAP. For reference, the 2020 festival included 115 films, with 50% of the features directed by women, and the list continues to grow for this year.

4. High Desert Museum Events

The High Desert Museum is also planning fall events to both educate and delight, making it well worth the trip to the gorgeous museum if you are a newcomer to Bend. You may be particularly interested in the “Dam It! Beavers and Us” event running until early October, which explores all things beaver, and the “Daredevils” exhibit, which opens in late September and follows thrill seekers across the history of the high desert.

5. Sisters Folk Festival

If you love folk music, you may also want to plan a trip over to Sisters to enjoy its annual Folk Festival, a collection of musicians, camps, and classes honoring the genre. It’s a fun time for the whole family, especially if you have any musicians – the only downside is that it happens at the same time as the Bend Fall Festival this year, October 1-3, so you may have to divide your time accordingly if you are living in Bend..

If you’d like to learn more details, you can always contact our relocation services in Central Oregon to learn more, ask a specific question, and explore what we offer!

If you are moving with kids who are in high school or rapidly approaching high school age, you’re no doubt interested in the high school options in Bend, and what high school options will be available if you are living in a particular area. High schools in Bend default to what zone students live in, with the four primary public high schools each serving a different area – plus the La Pine High School, which is somewhat of an outlier due to how education districts were drawn.

Those living in Bend can also consider Oregon’s transfer system to transfer students to school in another zone: The process can vary based on the school, so it’s important to start early and ask individual high schools for more information about accepting students outside of their zone.

Additionally, we highly looking at Bend’s high schools in person and talking with staff to ask specific questions if possible. Seeing the campus options, facilities, support for specific disciplines or sports, and other key factors in person is often the best way to choose a high school that aligns with your interests. But let’s look at some useful summaries of the major high schools in the area to help you get started.

Bend Senior High School

Close to the heart of bend, Bend High is the city’s oldest (117 years old) and largest high school, home to the Lava Bears and over 1,700 students. Bend High School’s central location ensures it’s close to a variety of residential neighborhoods, although the school’s zone does extend a bit both east and south, so you’ll want to check Bend’s school zoning maps carefully when making plans for schools in Bend. Bend High’s diligence in consistent upgrades over the years has led to well-equipped facilities for a variety of class types, as well as updated sports facilities.

Summit High School

Nearly the size of Bend High, Summit’s zone is the entire westside of the city. The newer school benefits from a gorgeous campus at the edge of the Central Oregon desert and is part of the Northern Crossing neighborhood, although its zone extends to the Deschutes River. Summit’s teams are the Storm.

Mountain View High School

If you decide on an east or northern location in Bend, your default high school is likely to be Mountain View, home of the Cougars and the second oldest high school in Bend. Like Bend High, Mountain View is located close to a variety of residential communities on the east side and is also just a walk away from both shopping centers and the sprawling St. Charles hospital complex.

Caldera High School

Opening in fall 2021 is a new high school serving a new zone in the rapidly growing Bend area: Caldera was designed by BBT Architects as a “school of the future” with advanced classroom options for more technical or career training, a 600-seat auditorium, a variety of fields for football and other sports, and a centrally located library. If you are moving to the southern part of Bend, Caldera could be your default high school option.

Marshall High School

Marshall is a magnet high school in Bend know for the Bend Tech Academy, which offers limited enrollment through a lottery system used every spring to accept up to 200 students. The Academy is focused on preparing students for college and career success in fields like engineering and other options.

Keep in mind there are also several private schools and academies that offer education through the 12th grade, such as Cascades Academy, Skyline, and Realms High School among others. These may be alternatives if you are looking for a particular kind of education experience. You can learn more on our website here.

If you’re interested in moving to Bend and want to learn more, our relocation services in Central Oregon can provide the advice and help you need to make things less complicated!

If you are moving to Bend with your children, a key part of your preparation is learning about your school options and making the right choices. There are around 40 schools in the Bend-La Pine School District, with a wide variety of options for every age. Our overview will help make a quick introduction to these schools so you are ready to learn more!

Elementary Schools

There are nearly 20 elementary schools throughout Bend, designed to be near residential areas for easy, safe access. Depending on where you find your home when living to Bend, walking, or biking to elementary school may be particularly easy. From Bear Creek Elementary on 13th street to Elk Meadow on Brookswood, there are many different options to consider. With so many choices, you may want to visit potential locations in person to get a better idea of what’s right for your family when living in Bend.

Middle Schools

There are currently seven middle schools in the Central Oregon area to consider. This includes La Pine Middle in La Paine, Cascade Middle up on Mountaineer Way, and Pilot Butte Middle on the east side on Neff Road. Middle schools aren’t as common as elementary schools, which makes location more important, so start with the nearest middle schools.

It’s also a good idea to consider if charter schools are right for your child: These are independently operated public schools that operate on a lottery system and may offer certain specializations or services that other schools do not. They are an alternative for elementary and middle schools and include options like Desert Sky Montessori. Magnet or Focus schools, which tend to have a curricular focus, are also available as options in the Bend area.

High Schools

Bend’s public high schools are available at no cost to students within their districts. Bend Senior High has a central location, Summit High is on the westside, Mountain View High on the east side, and Caldera High for the southern portion of Bend. For those in La Pine, La Pine High is the district high school. There are also alternative options here, such as the Bend Tech Academy. We have a map of the school districts and individual school locations that can make understanding this easier! There is also an official School Attendance Area webpage for schools in Bend that you can use for research and planning.

Independent Options

Private schools and home schooling are also options in the Bend area. Home schoolers can benefit from the High Desert Education Service District, a program that provides valuable resources and preparation for students currently being home-schooled.

Remember, whatever school you choose, it’s important to start the application process very early for the best results. This is particularly true if you would like to enter a lottery for a magnet school, or if you are applying to transfer to a school in another district. If you’d like to learn more about your school options in Bend, how enrollment works, and other important details, be sure to visit our education portal. Our relocation services in Central Oregon can offer the information need to choose a school and get ready for the next school season.

Meet the Bend Relocation Services Team—your dedicated partners in making your move to Bend seamless and stress-free. Whether you’re relocating or buying a home, our expert team specializes in addressing all your needs, including ensuring your pets feel right at home. Trust us to guide you through every step of the process with personalized care and expertise.

It’s National Dog Month, and there’s no better place to celebrate than Bend in the summer! While there are many places you can take your dog when heading out for a drink or social time with friends, one of the best spots is a dog park – especially one that your furry friend hasn’t visited yet. Let’s look at some of the best dog parks in Bend, what makes them special, and what you can expect when you make a visit

1. Ponderosa Park

Ponderosa is an easily accessible park that many can jog or bike to with their doggy companions, with five fenced-in acres for dogs to explore. There’s also a variety of amenities here that everyone will appreciate, including picnic shelters for events, a nearby skatepark and other play options, clean sources of water for thirsty pets, and poop bag dispensaries to help clean up. If you are new here and wondering what to do in Bend with your dog, Ponderosa Park is a great place to start!

2. Pine Nursery – Bob Wenger Memorial

Pine Nursery Park is always a beautiful destination, but it also has one of the best dog parks in the state, with the Bob Wenger Memorial Off-Leash area for dogs to frolic and explore. There’s a grassy run area, more than 18 miles of trails for you and your dog to hike and wonder, and in the summer a season spray park to help your pets cool down – something every dog owner has been very grateful for this summer!

3. Riverbend Park

Riverbend Park has several perfect options for your dog depending on what you have in mind. The trails following the Deschutes River up and down are a great place for on-leash exercise and exploration with some great views to boot. There’s a fence-in area to meet new furry friends and deal with the zoomies, and a riverside spot for swimming and cooling down in hot weather. The rest of the park has picnic shelters, water, restrooms, poop bags and everything else you need for a great afternoon. The park is also centrally located right by Old Mill, so it’s readily accessible with a short trip from anywhere in Bend. If you feel like other outdoor activities in Bend, you can also float the river or paddleboard here!

4. Big Sky

This five-acre park is an off-leash area that your dog will love to explore, especially when they find the doggy pond for a quick splash or swim! Clean water is provided as well – and Big Sky is notably family-friendly, with playgrounds and a BMX track for entertainment while your pet runs off some energy.

5. Hollinshead Park

Prefer to start off small? Those living in Bend will love the grassy Hollinshead Park, three acres of beautiful lawn for off-leash play with your dog. You can also stroll through the nearby community garden and relax at the restored barn for calmer on-leash fun! It’s a good choice for dogs that are still getting used to new locations.

Remember, Moving To Bend can help you find pet-friendly rentals and a wide variety of other services that you may need if you are thinking about relocating to Central Oregon!

Sorry, I don’t have the Crystal Ball.  It does appear that some sellers that are listing their homes too high are now taking a price reduction.  It is still a seller’s market, but sellers might want to list closer to actual list price as is always the best listing strategy.

Buyers still have to be more than ready as the pool of buyers is still very large even with a little more inventory.

Now, for a few numbers reflecting the market.  Median price in Bend is $640,000 a whopping increase of $176,000 over June 2020.  This is fueled by 20% of home sales being over $1,000,000.  List price to sales price is consistently around 105% for all price bands in the market, so most homes are still receiving multiple offers.  Days on the market holds steady at around 4 days with an inventory of less than 1 month.

There is a similar story in Redmond.  Median price is $451,000 with an increase of $119,000 over June of 2020.  Days on the market is at 4, inventory is less than 1 month and list price to sales price is over 100%.

Median sales price in Sisters in $610,000, Sunriver $792,000, LaPine $352,000 and Crook County $378,000.

For more information on this and other market trends, contact Mark Holme