Volcanic Bike and Brew Festival
No other town does beer and outdoor sports quite like Bend. Need an example? Check out the Volcanic Bike and Brew Festival at Mt. Bachelor from Aug. 26-28, featuring the best in mountain bike racing and local brews. Kicking off at 11 am each day, riders will compete in the final stretch of the Oregon Enduro Series. Sample beer, listen to live music, camp, and experience the amateur races, bike demos and ride clinics. The Volcanic Bike and Brew Base Package (which includes two nights of camping and six beer tokens) starts at $40 with additional costs for lift tickets and races. Bike rentals available. For more information, visit mtbachelor.com/event/volcanic-bike-brew-festival or call 800-829-2442.
Stars Over the Desert
With its vast deserts and high elevation, Central Oregon is ideal for stargazing—and the Stars Over the Desert event at Pine Mountain Observatory at 6 pm on Friday, Aug. 26, makes for a great introduction. The event, hosted by the Oregon Natural Desert Association, lets amateur astronomers view the night sky through the observatory's telescopes. Astronomer Alton Luken will provide insight into the celestial objects and Blackened Dragon will provide a picnic. The event is free (a $5 donation is encouraged), but spots are limited and hikers must register. For more information, visit onda.org or call 541-330-2638.
Pine Nursery Sunset Run
To enjoy the last bits of summer, runners need look no further than the Pine Nursery Sunset Run from 7-9 pm Friday, Sept. 2. Enjoy an evening of beauty and athleticism with tracks covering a majority of Pine Nursery Park's 160 acres. Compete in a grassy, breezy 5K or a looping, all-terrain 10K. Later, partake in food, snack and a beer garden. And since the race takes place over the long Labor Day weekend, there's plenty of time for recovery. Competitors must register in advance. All proceeds benefit the Mountain View High School cross-country team. For more information, search for "Pine Nursery Sunset Run" on Facebook.
