Ask 100 people to describe Bend and roughly 90 or so will wax poetic about hiking some sun-dappled trail by a lake. Or maybe they’ll describe dancing in the grass at a riverside concert, splashing in a hotel pool after a big day of mountain biking, or even floating the Deschutes in a bright orange inner tube.

If that fits your image of Bend, congratulations! You’ve just nailed the picture-perfect July day during Bend’s busiest month of the year. There are tons of great reasons to flock here at the peak of summer, and most involve sunshiney days, starlit nights, and oodles of outdoor adventure. 

With so many reasons to visit this summer, here are the best things to do in Bend in July!

Cool off with rivers, lakes, and waves
Catch the Pet Parade (it starts earlier this year!)
Watch the July 4 firework show at 10 p.m.
Pickleball, lacrosse, and baseball in Bend
Summer concerts in Bend
Leave No Trace!

Make a big splash

Bend is a high desert, and it’s true we all pool together (pun intended) to conserve water. But for a desert town, Bend’s brimming with ways to get splashy in rivers, lakes, creeks, swimming pools, and the occasional mud puddle formed by a midsummer thunderstorm.

Bend’s bodies of water make great spots to cool off when our high desert temps soar to “hoo boy” heights. Local lakes and rivers make great spots to try standup paddlboarding and kayaking. Add an adrenaline rush to your adventure on 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 summer long 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 festivals!

I joke that Bend hosts at least one festival every weekend, but no month makes that truer than July.

Arguably Bend’s biggest event of the year, the 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. 

Pay special attention to the timing this year, as the 2025 lineup begins at 8:30 with the parade kicking off at 9:30. Staging takes place in Harmon Park, and this year’s route will head north on Harmon to Newport, then east on Newport to Wall Street and down Wall to finish in Drake Park. It’s pretty much the same route as the Christmas parade, but a whole lot warmer to set up your camp chair for viewing (something you should do waaaay early if you want a good spot).

In the past, July 4 festivities also included an Old Fashioned Festival in Drake Park, but that’s been on hiatus the past couple years. Keep an eye on the Bend Park & Rec page devoted to all the best Independence Day happenings so you can plan for future festivities.

If lighting things on fire is your personal July 4th 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, and it’s actually pretty inspiring to watch folks sticking to the rules to 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 farmers markets on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays to the Sisters Quilt Show to a Dirt Festival (why the heck not?!). For more celebrations taking place around Bend in July, check our Event Calendar.

Pickleball, Lacrosse, and Baseball in Bend

Got some competitive energy to burn? Bend’s sporting event scene heats up in a big way each July.

Pickleball fanatics won’t want to miss the Pacific Northwest Classic Pickleball Tournament  happening in July. It’s a fun event for all ages and skills.

Catch the 2025 Oregon Lacrosse Classic July 18-20, featuring multiple 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. If you hit the July 3 game against the Walla Walla Sweets, you’ll even catch a post-game fireworks display.

Hiking in the Central Cascades

When it’s time for a break from the heat of July, head for the mountains around Central Oregon. July is when most trails become snow-free.

Mt. Bachelor morphs from a ski hill to an oasis of summertime fun with sunset dinners starting June 26 and running through September, plus activities like disc golf, ziplining, scenic chairlift rides, and downhill mountain biking. 

For a great introduction to hiking around Bend, try the Evergreen Trail at Mt. Bachelor, a 4.5-mile, lift-accessible multi-use trail that runs from the West Village base to Pine Marten Lodge. Choose between riding the lift up and hiking down or opt for hiking both ways. I like the scenic lift ride, followed by lunch at Pine Marten Lodge and a brisk hike back down to my car, but read up on your options to know what’s most do-able for you. No matter what, it’s a great way to squeeze in a High Cascades hike without needing a permit.

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. But once snow finally melts from its craggy slopes, midsummer 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.

July concerts happening around Bend

Bend’s outdoor concert scene kicks into high gear when July rocks onto the scene at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. You’ll have ample opportunity to twirl in the grass beside the sparkling Deschutes River to the sounds of Lake Street Dive, Dispatch and John Butler, Alabama Shakes, Whiskey Myers, Neil Young, the Dropkick Murphys, 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. This year’s event goes all in on country music (that’s a switch from the first two years when it was more of a folk/bluegrass/country hybrid) and highlights include Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, Dwight Yoakam, Tanya Tucker, Flatland Cavalry, Sierra Ferrell, and more. 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 Bend better than you found it

With more visitors flocking to Bend’s trails and attractions in summers, it’s a great opportunity for everyone to have a hand in mitigating our impact on the natural environment. Why not seize the chance to leave Bend even better than you found it?

Taking care of the places that feed your soul helps to ensure they’ll be just as pristine (maybe more so) when you come back again. Or when your kids visit as adults, or their kids visit or . . . well, you get the idea.

When you’re out and about, make sure to follow Leave No Trace practices to help tend Bend’s outdoor spaces. Want to take it a step further? Participate in a voluntourism activity like the annual Deschutes River Cleanup at the tail end of June to kick off July with an altruistic flair. 

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 supports this valuable program helping tend all the places that tend your soul.

Happy July, friends! Stay safe out there.