The Top Outdoor Entertainment in Bend Oregon
Drake Park is located in the heart of Downtown Bend, Oregon along the beautiful and historic Deschutes River. The park offers top digs to many events for locals and visitors alike. Drake Park adjoins the old downtown shopping and restaurant district along Wall and Bond streets which host such annual events as the Cascade Cycling classic and the ever-popular Hot Summer Night Concert Series.
Sitting prominently on the corner of Wall Street and Franklin Avenue, just a block from Drake Park, is the El Jimador Bar and Grill. Locals and visitors enjoy the casual but upbeat dining experience both outside where tables line the side walk of Franklin Avenue or inside the colorful fiesta inspired eatery. El Jimador is a Mexican restaurant that has some of the best Enchiladas Del Pollo with generous chicken and wonderful slices of ripened avocado to add just that colorful and tasty touch. Most surprising to the taste is the pleasantly sweet overtones of the sauces. The restaurant offers an awesome (and free) appetizer: tortilla chips with house salsa and a very delightful cabbage and light sauce mix. The wait staff is prompt and very friendly.
While dining there recently, this author had the experience of relaxing and enjoying great food at the cozy bar eating a fresh hot plate of Enchilada Del Pollo while watching passerby’s of street hikers, tourists, children and families. What a great place to feel connected to the lively downtown culture!
El Jimador Bar and Grill
801 NW Wall ST.
Bend, Oregon 97701
Phone: 541-318-1333
A popular event in Bend Oregon is the Pole Pedal Paddle; a triathlon-like event only better because it offers a treacherous downhill road biking race that begins at Mount Bachelor’s 6200 foot elevation parking lot. This event is held annually in May. The contestants range from greatly skilled athletes to informal team oriented racers. The race starts half way up famous Mt Bachelor ski resort. As the race begins, the racers run a couple of meters to their skis or snowboards then, attaching their equipment, they race down a gated and difficult course. Upon reaching the bottom the mountain, racers change into Nordic gear and race an eight km cross country battle around the selected race course. After finishing the difficult cross county leg, the racers climb onto their bikes and speed down Mt. Bachelor twenty-two miles to Bend. After reaching town, the running part of the race begins. Runners struggle for five miles on dirt inclines and paved trails, then continues with an 800 km Canoeing/ Kayaking race that begins on the Deschutes River. Last is the glorious sprint to the finish line. The event draws people from all over the northern hemisphere. For more information please visit:
www.pole-pedal-paddle.com
Drake Park is also home to the annual Munch and Music concert series where anyone can walk or bike in free of charge and enjoy hours of great music and savor some of Bend’s best eateries. Every Thursday evening from July until August, it features an array of musical artists and local restaurant venders from the Central Oregon area. The outdoor stage which the bands perform on is enjoyed by dozens of dancing spectators from all walks of life. This is the magic of just one of Drake Parks many offerings. Adults and children will be seen swaying to the vibe to the music. A beer garden is offered for adults 21 and over which serves local brewery beers.
Grab a bite to eat and a cold drink! Join hundreds of others in front of the stage and listen to the music. Local and visiting artists are busy pitching their art work hoping to sell their wares. The art ranges from handmade jewelry, paintings, and pottery to handmade clothing. Face painting is popular with the children who attend munch and music and each year the event offers different things for the children to enjoy such as rock wall climbing for the brave at heart and inflatable slides and romper rooms for the more cautious adventurers. For more information please visit www.munchandmusic.com.
