October in Bend is a wall-to-wall series of independently organized events exploring innovation, creativity and ingenuity.

We love fall in Central Oregon for all the obvious reasons.

The mountain bike trails are a little less crowded and not as dusty, fire pits around town at places like Greg’s Grill and Anthony’s are up and running, and the colors near Dillon Falls and in the Cascade foothills are truly epic.

Just as inspiring as the turning of the leaves and the fall dishes served around town is Bend’s Tenth Month, a celebration of art, culture, film, tech and business.

Find your inspiration at these various events during the month of October:

Swivel Digital + Creative Marketing Conference
October 8-9
Swivel is a digital marketing conference all about engaging today’s trends in digital marketing, search, technology, and advertising from every angle. In a literal sense, to swivel is to turn on your axis which is firmly anchored at its center. The Swivel Conference does just that, providing a 360-degree view of the cutting-edge technologies and practices presented by today’s thought leaders in digital marketing.
www.swivelnow.com

BendFilm Festival
October 11-14
BendFilm celebrates 15 years of bringing independent film to Central Oregon this fall. For four days this October, Bend will be transformed from a recreational haven into a small town fascinated by the film industry’s soul. We gather to behold the work of the most talented independent filmmakers. Downtown theaters, lecture sites, music rooms, and party venues spark with the energy excited by the overwhelming presence of cinema. The event runs deeper than the marathon film-watching that fills guests’ schedules from dawn until, well… dawn. Everyone you see on the sidewalks, in the restaurants, and bars makes films, cares about them, or has an opinion about film. It is the serendipitous encounters and ensuing discussions with the filmmakers and fellow passholders that makes the weekend so inspiring and affecting.
www.bendfilm.org

Bend Venture Conference
October 18-19
Last year, more than 600 attendees, 50 prominent investors, and 70-plus companies joined the BVC for a celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation. Investments, awards, and prizes of more than $1.83 million opened the opportunity for multiple winners at the 2017 conference!

The 2018 Bend Venture Conference will feature three competition categories:

Growth Stage Competition: Open to companies that have a proven concept, have generated initial revenues and are prepared to scale quickly with investment. Companies can be located anywhere in the U.S.

Early Stage Competition: Open to companies that have a great idea and are close to “proof of concept.” They are pre-revenue (or very early) and are in the process of testing their product in the market. Companies can be located anywhere in the U.S.

Impact Competition: This category includes for-profit companies, whose business models are integrated with a mission to have a significant and measurable social or environmental impact. Companies should be aiming to generate long-term enterprise value and attractive returns on capital. Companies can be located anywhere in the U.S.
bendvc.edcoinfo.com

Bend Design Conference
October 25-27
Three days of talks, interactive workshops, hands-on exhibits, and collaboration-sparking conversations for everyone who’s curious about how design thinking can transcend job titles and help shape our shared future. Presented by ScaleHouse, a member-supported nonprofit arts organization, Bend Design aims to equip current and future leaders with the inspiration, tools, and connections to help shape our shared future. Now in its fourth year, Bend Design 2018 is assembling creative thinkers from a diverse range of practices and professions. Please join us!
www.benddesign.org