From magical balloon rides and outdoor concerts to adventures on the river and old-fashioned fun at the fair, summers in Central Oregon are family-tastic!

1 – Balloons Over Bend/Children’s Festival, July 26-28
Three full days of balloon launches, night glows and balloon-filled skies highlight Balloons Over Bend. The Children’s Festival helps kick off the event on Friday, July 26, with carnival games, creative stations, face painting and a bike rodeo.

2 – Les Schwab Amphitheater summer concerts (above picture), June 9-Sept. 14
Bend’s outdoor amphitheater is more than just the most scenic music venue in the state, it’s also one of the most family friendly. For most shows there’s plenty of green space for families to spread out and let loose!

3 – Bend Summer Fest, July 12-14
Fine food, diverse music, business showcases, a kid’s zone and one of the most eclectic artists promenade’s of the summer make the Bend Summer Festival a destination event. Your little ones will love the Family Play Zone while you’ll savor music from three different stages and food from some of Central Oregon’s most innovative food concepts.

4 – Deschutes County Fair, July 31-August 4
Help the fair ring in 100 years of community fun this summer! Concerts, rides, games, rodeo, animals and of course, fantastic fair food are all part of this year’s centennial celebration at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo grounds in Redmond. The Deschutes County Fair is the largest county fair in the state and only slightly smaller than the state fair. It’s truly and end-of-the-summer tradition not to be missed.

5 –Picin’ & Paddlin’ concert series, July 24 & September 28
Kayak, canoe and paddleboard demos on the Deschutes followed by live music on the lawn of Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe makes this concert series a local’s favorite. Great bands, great spot on the river and all for a great cause as proceeds go to the Bend Paddle Trail Alliance.

The Children’s Festival is set to take place July 26.