Bend Brews & Beyond

Bend Brews & Beyond brings Oregon’s craft beverage scene to Drake Park on the banks of the Deschutes River in downtown Bend over Memorial Day weekend. Replacing the former Bend Brewfest, it’s designed to feel smaller, more local, and easier to settle into between pours. You can taste from more than 50 Oregon breweries and cideries, including every locally owned producer in Central Oregon, plus a strong non-alcoholic lineup of hop waters, kombuchas, and cold brews.

Plan to spread out along the riverfront lawn, then move between taps, food, and competitions at your own pace. You’ll catch professional brewers facing off in the Brewers Decathlon for the Mashlete Trophy, and you can join the Drinking Pants Pageant if you packed something boldly eccentric. Ten local food trucks handle the food side, and the Next Tap biergarten, run by the Central Oregon Homebrewers Organization, is where you’ll find limited small-batch releases.

To make the day smooth, arrive by 11:30 AM so you’re checked in before taps open at noon. Buy tickets online in advance for $40 (the gate price is $55), and keep in mind capacity is capped at 5,000 guests per day. Wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen for the open park setting, bring an empty water bottle for the free potable water stations, and consider the LOGE-sponsored valet parking if you’re arriving by bike or floating in with a stand-up paddleboard or river tube.

Good to know: this is a strict 21+ event, with no children, infants, or dogs permitted, though the Humane Society will have a pet-petting zoo on-site. The festival is rain or shine with no weather-related refunds, it runs cashless (contactless payment is accepted, American Express is typically excluded), and there’s no re-entry once you exit. For lodging, stay downtown or in the Old Mill District for an easy walk or bike to Drake Park, look at Westside vacation rentals for quick river-trail access, or browse Lake.com for nearby water-oriented options for the holiday weekend.