Break out the red white and blue, Bend friends! It’s July in the city routinely ranked as one of the best small towns in America to spend Independence Day.

But the holiday isn’t the only reason it’s awesome to visit Bend in July. Our desert oasis teems with tons of outdoor fun, from biking to hiking high mountain trails. Floating the river makes the perfect way to cool off, and families flock here for whitewater rafting and kid-friendly vacation activities

Wondering what to see, do, and experience in Bend this July? Here’s what’s happening!

Splash the day away

Bend’s weather in July can range from “pleasantly warm” to “bare toes burning on pavement” kinda hot. There’s also one memorable year when it snowed in July, so it goes without saying you don’t always know what you’ll get.

Generally speaking, July in Bend feels toasty warm, so we’re lucky there’s no shortage of water waiting to cool your body and calm your soul. Local lakes and rivers boast a bounty of spots to try standup paddlboarding and kayaking. Add an adrenaline rush to your adventure with a whitewater rafting trip with Sun Country Tours.

For a more serene river experience, try floating the Deschutes River as it ambles through the Old Mill District and Downtown Bend. The river shuttle runs all month in July so floaters don’t have to walk back to the put-in. Go here to learn everything you need to know about floating the river in Bend.

For other forms of water play, including canoeing, swimming and surfing (yep, really!) follow the links on this page. And if you’re seeking the chlorinated safety of a hotel pool, this page makes a great starting point to find your perfect July crash pad.

Bring on the events!

Regarded by most as Bend’s primo event of the year, our annual 4th of July Pet Parade takes place each Independence Day. It’s been going strong since 1924 and draws thousands of folks ranging from farm animals to face-painted kids on bikes to grownups strolling with costumed dogs. The timing and route vary a little from year to year, but one constant? This all-ages event captures the Bend spirit like nothing else.

This year, Munch and Music is slated to kick off their 2024 schedule with their first concert of the season on July 4. It’s a longstanding Bend festival that’s family friendly and packed with food, games, and live music. Keep an eye on their page for info.

If lighting things on fire is your personal 4th of July tradition, Bend’s not the place for it. Starting in 2021, Bend banned the use and sale for all fireworks in the city limits.Our drought-stricken, fire-prone high desert is a tinderbox waiting for one misplaced spark, so it’s inspiring how folks stick to the rules and protect our fragile landscape. Maybe it’s because the professional fireworks show fired from atop Pilot Butte is so awesome, there’s no need for more. Catch the display from almost anyplace in Bend beginning at 10 p.m. each July 4.

What if you’re feeling festive but can’t make it to Bend for Independence Day? There’s always something to celebrate, including July’s ever-popular Bend Summer Festival featuring live music, food booths, and tons of family fun. 

Balloons Over Bend also happens each July with a fun-filled weekend of hot air balloon launches, the evening Night Glow event, and fun and games with a Children’s Festival.

Smaller festivities sprinkled throughout July mean there’s something happening nearly every weekend, from the Newberry Event Music Festival to the Sisters Quilt Show. For more celebrations taking place around Bend on any given day of July, check our Event Calendar.

Embrace the competitive spirit

If the sporting life fuels your love of summer, Bend’s a great spot to be in July.

The High Desert Classic hunter/jumper horse show attracts world-class riders from all over the U.S. and Canada. Approved by the U.S. Hunter/Jumper Association, it’s the only event of its kind in Central Oregon and helps fund the nonprofit J Bar J.

Catch the Oregon Lacrosse Classic in mid-July, featuring five games over the course of the weekend with a championship format.
Prefer to enjoy your competitive sporting events with a beer and hot dog in hand? Baseball season for the Bend Elks is in full swing (pun intended) in July, so take yourself out to the ballgame.

Head for the mountains

If you’ve waited for high-elevation hotspots to shake off their snow coats, it’s go-time in July for your favorite mountain trails and attractions.

Mt. Bachelor morphs from a ski hill to an oasis of summertime fun with sunset dinners spanning July through September, plus activities like disc golf, ziplining, scenic chairlift rides, and their popular downhill bike park. Don’t miss their brand-new hiking trail that starts at the base of Little Pine Lift. It’s an incredible opportunity to hike this dormant volcano, with trail building and signage buoyed by Visit Bend’s own Bend Sustainability Fund.

While most trails and resorts in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument open in May or June, Paulina Peak tends to open toward the end of June or even July in heavier snow years. With snow finally melted from its slopes, this midsummer month marks the perfect time to gain some elevation and fantastic views of the region.

With the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway fully open, trails you couldn’t reach in February or May become suddenly ripe for the picking. If you’re headed that way, make sure you know the rules for Central Cascades Wilderness Permits. You’ll need to plan ahead and secure a permit for popular hiking areas like Green Lakes and Tam Macarthur. It’s also vital to know snow conditions before you set out, as this varies widely from year to year, week to week. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for the Forest Service’s Deschutes National Forest page, as they often post updates about snow levels.

Dance barefoot in the grass

I’m obsessed with Bend’s outdoor music scene, and no month shines quite like July. The weather’s warm enough that you don’t need puffy coats when the sun goes down, and (knock on wood) we’re not typically dealing with wildfire smoke this early in the summer.

With 50+ shows slated this summer at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater, you’ve got ample opportunity to twirl in the grass beside the sparkling Deschutes River to the sounds of the Smashing Pumpkins, Dierks Bently, Lindsey Stirling, the Dave Matthews Band, and dozens of other artists. Scope out this post for everything you need to know about this season’s shows.

July also brings Munch and Music, which has been going strong in Drake Park since 1991 with free, family-friendly shows. Bring your own picnic basket, or pick up some grub from a variety of food booths adorning the banks of the Deschutes River.

If music festivals are your jam, don’t miss the FairWell Festival at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds. The 2024 lineup includes performances by Billy Strings, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Katie Pruitt, Caamp, Ryan Bingham with the Texas Gentlemen, Leann Rimes, Shaky Graves, Tanner Usrey, Kacey Musgraves, Whiskey Myers, the Black Pumas, and dozens of others. Artists will perform on one of three outdoor stages, plus there’s loads of local craft beer, wine, tasty dining options, and handmade craft goods. Go here for ticket info. 

Leave No Trace

It’s undeniable that July’s increase in visitors leads to some trails and attractions being loved to death. Why not work to leave Bend better than you found it?

Participate in a voluntourism activity like the annual Deschutes River Cleanup. There are multiple stewardship sites to pick from, and you can cap off your day with a relaxing river float.

Want to learn more about sustainability efforts aimed at tending Bend’s wild places? Go here for details on the Bend Sustainability Fund, then pat yourself on the back because a portion of transient room tax (TRT) from your Bend hotel stay helps support this valuable program helping tend all the places that tend your soul.

Happy July, friends! Stay safe out there.