Our goal at Village Properties is to provide you with just the right home in Sunriver while giving you plenty of ideas of things to do in the area. Check out our list of October events in Central Oregon as you plan your trip to the area! We hope you enjoy your stay.
Here Are a Few of Our Favorite October Events in Central Oregon:
Bend Fall Festival | October 6 – 8
One of our favorite October events in Central Oregon is the Fall Festival. As the light slants and softens, bringing the harvest in its wake, our thoughts turn to the coziness of the fall season. Celebrate with the delights of The First Interstate Bank Bend Fall Festival 2017. All the traditions that you love about this event will be there – pumpkin carving, gourmet food and wine, a harvest market, and outstanding music. New this year is the Fall Into Fashion Area, highlighting a carefully selected group of creators, retailers, and reps for both clothing and accessories which will be featured in street fashion shows.
Prepare to have your appetite whetted by the crispness of the season and an outstanding collection of vendors and do a little holiday shopping in the most unique marketplace in Central Oregon.
Friday, October 6th (5pm – 11pm)
Saturday, October 7th (11am – 11pm)
Sunday, October 8th (11am – 5pm)
Sandhill Cranes | October 12
Join the Sunriver Nature Center for a fascinating introduction to the origins and travels of three Pacific Flyway Sandhill Crane subspecies that breed and migrate through Oregon. For over 20 years, Dr. Gary Ivey of the International Crane Foundation has been actively involved in ecological research, habitat management, and conservation efforts aimed at Sandhill Cranes. Dr. Ivey will provide an intimate look at the unique natural history of this bird and its status throughout Oregon.
The lecture will take place in the Pozzi Building at Sunriver Nature Center.
Project Ponderosa Fall Seedling Sale | October 13- October 22
Project Ponderosa was founded in 2005 by Sunriver resident Lee Stevenson to promote student environmental engagement and Ponderosa Pine restoration in Sunriver, Oregon and the upper-Deschutes River ecosystem. Since the project’s inception, over 8,000 seedlings have been potted and maintained by students at Three Rivers School and La Pine High School and more than $10,000 has been raised to support non-profit organizations both locally and internationally.
Ponderosa Pines are a hardy, majestic native conifer but have been historically heavily logged. However, they are significantly more resistant to disease, mountain pine beetles, drought, and wind damage than Lodgepole Pines. They are also fire resistant when mature, due to their thick cinnamon-colored bark. Planting Ponderosa Pines helps to restore forest diversity in the Sunriver ecosystem while preserving the Sunriver community’s “Tree City USA” catchphrase.
Sunriver Nature Center is proud to support Project Ponderosa through a biannual Ponderosa Pine seedling sale and educational opportunities throughout the year. The fall 2017 seedling sale is scheduled for Friday, October 13 through Sunday, October 22 (closed Monday and Tuesday) at the Nature Center. Seedlings will be available in various sizes and prices will range from $8 to $30. Detailed planting instructions will be provided with all seedling purchases and can be viewed here.
Mushroom Foraging Field Trip | October 20
The Central Oregon Mushroom Club will lead a field trip in search of wild and edible mushrooms in the local area. On this field trip, participants will receive an introduction to fungi diversity and learn to identify different types of mushrooms in the forest. Instruction will also be provided on how to ‘hunt’ and collect mushrooms as well as how to identify mushrooms that are safe for eating.
The field trip is limited to 20 people (adults only, no pets please) and pre-registration is required. Please meet at the Nature Center parking lot by 9:30 am. Individuals are responsible for their own transportation to the National Forest. Individuals planning to collect mushrooms must first obtain a free Forest Products Free Use Permit from the U.S. Forest Service office in Bend. Each participant should bring this permit to the field trip. In addition, each individual should bring a wide-bottomed container (bucket, basket) and a sturdy knife or small garden trowel for mushroom collection.
If you’re looking for fun October events in Central Oregon, this one can’t be beat.
FUNgi Day and Mushroom Show | October 21
Join Sunriver Nature Center and the Central Oregon Mushroom Club for a special day dedicated to appreciating and understanding fungi! Mushroom fun for the whole family includes:
- Guided mushroom walks at 11 am and 1 pm (weather permitting)
- Mushroom display showcasing a variety of local fungi
- Meet a local mushroom expert – The Central Oregon Mushroom Club will be ready to answer all of your questions!
- Identification Station – Bring your fungi specimen or photo for identification
- Children’s activities and crafts
- Education stations with information and resources for mushroom enthusiasts of all levels
Transplanting Forest Seedlings: Workshop and Field Trip | October 22
Lee Stevenson, founder of Project Ponderosa, will lead a hands-on workshop at the Sunriver Nature Center. Participants will learn how to identify and transplant a variety of native forest seedlings, including Grand Fir, White Fir, Mountain Hemlock, Snowbush, Manzanita, Mahala Mat, Kinnikinnick, Indian Paintbrush, and more. Information will also be shared about where to find these native species locally and how to successfully collect and transplant them into your own yard.
The first half of the program will be held at the Sunriver Nature Center and then the group will travel to one or more locations within 10 miles of Sunriver for plant collection. Please bring your own pots/containers and shovel if you have one. Participants should also obtain a free Forest Products Free Use Permit from the U.S. Forest Service office on Deschutes Market Road in Bend so they can collect transplants during the field trip portion of the program.
This program is limited to 12 participants and early registration is recommended.
The Secret Garden by The Sunriver Stars | October 26 – October 29
Sunriver Stars is an all-volunteer Community Theater group with several October events in Central Oregon. All positions from the Artistic Director on down are non-paid positions and, as such, require a strong commitment to the work at hand.
For the start of the 2018 season Sunriver Stars will present a fun and upbeat adaptation of the 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett, produced with permission by Pioneer Drama.
There will be a dinner show on Saturday, October 28th. Ticket purchase includes a reserved seat and dinner before the show. Refreshments will be available for purchase at all shows. $10 for kids and $15 adults. You may purchase tickets here.
Show Dates and Times:
Thursday, October 26th – 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM)
Friday, October 27th – 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM)
Saturday, October 28th – 7:00 PM
Sunriver Stars is offering dinner show tickets (limit 50) for this performance – your ticket purchase includes a reserved seat and a sumptuous dinner (see menu) before the show.
- For those with Dinner Show tickets, doors open at 5:30 PM
- For all other ticket holders, doors open at 6:00 PM
Sunday, October 29th – 3:00 PM (doors open at 2:00 PM)
- All performances are presented at:
The Door at Three Rivers in the Sunriver Business Park
56885 Enterprise Dr, Sunriver, OR 97707
Sunriver’s Tasting Dinner Featuring Bendistillery | October 27
Finally, another of our favorite October events in Central Oregon this year, Sunriver’s October Sunriver Tasting Dinner will feature Bendistillery! At this tasting dinner, you will have the unique opportunity to learn about the inspiration, history, and techniques that were used to craft these spirits and learn why they are a Northwest favorite. The dinner will feature a gourmet autumn-themed five-course meal, specially prepared by the Sunriver’s award-winning culinary team and paired with cocktails featuring spirits from Bendistillery. The tasting dinner will take place at Carson’s American Kitchen, located in the Main Lodge at Sunriver. Cost is $84.37 per person. You can check it out here!
These are just a few of the October events in Central Oregon this year. We hope you enjoy your stay!
Halloween in the Village | October 31
The Village at Sunriver is excited to present Spooktacular fun on Halloween! Kids of all ages are welcome to enjoy trick or treating with the village merchants ans how off their favorite costume during the costume contest where winners will receive frightfully fun prizes. Join us for bounce house fun, a cupcake walk, ghoulish games at our spooky Halloween party. Event starts at 4pm and continues until 6pm, free of charge.