Welcome to June in Bend—the month when everything heats up. I don’t just mean temps, though it’s true most days bring heaping helpings of sunshine and blue skies. 

When June comes to Bend, so do outdoor adventurers eager to splash in our lakes and rivers. Smiling families flock to sun-dappled forests, and everyone you meet wears trail-worn sandals and great big grins.

Wondering what to see and do as summer settles on our mountain oasis? Here’s what’s happening in Bend in June!

Did someone say festival?

While winter’s no slouch when it comes to Bend festivals, June’s when things kick into high gear.

There’s always something happening for Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating June 19, 1865 when soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to deliver the message that the Union had won the war and now had the manpower to enforce the end of slavery. Bookmark this link to keep tabs on Bend Juneteenth celebrations.

June also marks Pride Month when LGBTQ+ communities and allies celebrate the ability to come together and be themselves. OUT Central Oregon lists lots of special events on their website, while properties like The Campfire Hotel pack their event calendar with goodies like burlesque shows and Pride pool parties. Don’t miss the Pride Month kickoff event on June 1 in Drake Park, put on by the Bend Pride Coalition.

Nothing says summer like barbecue, so mark your calendar for the Big Bend BBQ at Alpenglow Park. This summertime bonanza includes tons of live music, family-friendly fun, and an endless bounty of great grilled grub.

Need more ideas for what to do in Bend in June? Search Visit Bend’s Event Calendar for any sort of festival under the sun!

Grab your paddles, boards, and float tubes

Not gonna lie, our snow-fed mountain waters aren’t warm. That’s the beauty of exploring Bend’s rivers and lakes in June—you never run out of ways to stay cool.

Want to try standup paddlboarding or kayaking? Bend’s the best place on earth to learn, and our friends at Tumalo Creek can hook you up with all the gear and lessons you need.

With the Deschutes River running high, it’s the perfect time to go whitewater rafting with Sun Country Tours on a stunning stretch of water known as Big Eddy.

For a more leisurely river experience, floating is the quintessential Bend passtime. Each June,  the river shuttle starts circulating so floaters don’t have to hoof it 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.

The mountains are calling

While seasonal road closures start lifting in May, our high-elevation hotspots truly start shining in June. 

Popular resorts swing open the doors for gift shops and on-site restaurants, while boat rentals give you a way to explore Central Oregon’s pristine lakes. Check out East Lake Resort, Elk Lake Resort, Cultus Lake Resort, and other popular high lake locales for the lake adventure of your dreams.

June also brings summer operations to Mt. Bachelor as ski slopes transform into mountain bike trails, ziplining kicks into full swing, and scenic chairlift rides open to the public.

If it’s been a heavy snow year, you’ll watch your step on popular high-elevation hiking trails around the Newberry National Volcanic Monument or spots off the Cascade Lakes Highway like Sparks Lake and Todd Lake. 

Speaking of Central Cascades hiking trails, make sure you know which areas require wilderness permits for day use and overnight hiking. Now’s the time to line up permits for June hikes, so read this article for rules, maps, and other details about the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit system. 

Get ready to shake your groove thing

Bend’s warm summer temps, cooler evenings, and relative lack of rain make it the perfect spot for live outdoor music, and June is when our music scene starts to really rock.

The first shows at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater generally kick off in late May or early June, with the season spanning through October. Want to know what’s on tap for the venue this year? This post has all the info you need about tickets, venue rules, and most importantly, who’s coming to treat your earholes to a delightful night of tunes.

Want live music on a budget? Munch and Music has been going strong in Drake Park since 1991 with free, family-friendly shows. The concerts don’t begin untill July, but now’s when you should mark dates on your calendar so you don’t miss your favorite artist.
If you don’t mind driving just a bit, Faith, Hope, and Charity Vineyards offers super-awesome live music shows with tasty wine to boot. Best of all, they boast some of the most epic mountain views around. Make it a dinner date and pair their wood-fired pizzas with a glass or two of locally-made vino. Just remember to have a designated driver for the journey back to Bend!

Your Bend family vacation awaits

School’s out for summer, and for families across the Pacific Northwest, June’s the best time for a Bend family vacation.

The event calendar for the High Desert Museum suddenly starts bursting with offerings like Raptors of the Sky flight demos, kid-friendly exhibits, and camps for kiddos of different ages. There’s a reason this place has been a top family attraction for 40+ years, and June is when its outdoor exhibits really shine. 

The outdoor attractions at Sun Mountain Fun Center also get lots more fun when June brings warmer weather. Make a plan to take the whole fam and hit the batting cages, go-karts, and mini-golf course.

I already touched on whitewater rafting above, but can I give it another shout-out? It’s truly one of the coolest family-friendly adventures to have on your bucket list, particularly in June when the water’s running high and fast.

And don’t get me started on the roundup of offerings from Wanderlust Tours. Excursions like their Cascade Lakes Canoe Tour and their super-fun Volcano Tour start rolling again as snow melts at high elevations. These outings are hands-down some of my family’s favorite memories, and their naturalist guides do a great job mixing educational info with cheerful fun, plus all the transportation and gear you need.

Want a one-of-a-kind summertime adventure? The Paulina Plunge combines downhill biking (it’s tame, I swear!) with waterfall hikes and a chance to ride natural waterslides unlike anything you’ve experienced before. My kids first did this with us a decade ago and HAVE. NOT. STOPPED. TALKING. ABOUT. IT. Tours run from June through September each year and tend to book up fast. 

For more ideas on family-friendly fun in Bend, check out this page on the Visit Bend site.

Leave it better than you found it

Bend’s busiest time of year brings sunshine and crowds to our outdoor spaces, and it also brings heightened awareness that it’s up to all of us to protect our natural resources.

Remember to pack out all your litter from that family hike, and tote water in reusable bottles instead of one-time-use plastic. Stick to marked trails instead of wandering off on your own, and if you show up at a trailhead and the parking lot’s full? That’s your cue to move to plan B instead of inventing a parking spot on the fragile forest floor.

Need more ideas for planning a sustainable Bend vacation? Check out our Leave No Trace page to get geared up for an eco-friendly family vacation.

Welcome to Bend in June. Now get out there and enjoy!