Central Library to Host Community Grand Opening Celebration

The Central Library has been in full operation for more than two months, and library staff are ready to celebrate this new chapter by hosting an event befitting the role the library plays in the community. A grand opening celebration from noon–4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, is open to the public and will feature the U.S. and Oregon Poets Laureate, presentations, activities, performers, and more.

“The community response to the Central Library has been nothing short of amazing,” said Deschutes Public Library Director Todd Dunkelberg. “We’ve had nearly 150,000 enthusiastic people come through the doors since we opened in mid-May. Now that we’ve had a chance to settle in, we’re excited to throw a proper grand opening event that celebrates not just this incredible new building, but the people of Deschutes County who made it all possible.”

The grand opening event is the largest yet thrown by the library. It all begins at noon on August 15 with remarks from members of Indigenous Neighbor Nations as well as U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze and Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston.

The Central Library will be closed the morning of August 15 in preparation for the event, with doors opening to the public following remarks at noon. Attendees will be treated to performances from kite fliers as well as Lava City Cirque, and are invited to explore the library to take part in fun happenings, such as face painting, hands-on activities in the MakerSpace, balloon artistry, and a poetry exhibit. Fun library swag will also be found throughout the building.

Saturday, August 15 events and presentations:

11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Performances by Lava City Cirque
Noon: Event begins with remarks from Todd Dunkelberg, members of Neighbor Nations, Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston, and U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze
12:30 – 2:3o p.m.: Kite flying
12:45 p.m.: Members of Central Oregon’s Neighbor Nations present (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Bur Paiute Tribe, and Klamath Tribes) present
1:45 p.m.: Artists whose work appears in the Central Library present, including Jeremy Okai Davis, John Grade, and MoWo
3:00 p.m.: U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze presents

The celebration continues with the following events on Sunday, August 16:

9:00 a.m.: Library opens
9:30 a.m.: Llamas on the Central Library’s east patio
11:00 a.m.: Free screening of the film The Librarians
2:00 p.m.: Writing workshop with Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston (registration required)
3:00 p.m.: Bella Acapella Choir performance

All library events are free and open to the public.

In November 2020, Deschutes County voters supported the library’s bond measure to expand and improve libraries across the county. The bond funded the remodeling of existing libraries in La Pine, Sisters, and Sunriver, and is funding the remodel of the Downtown Bend Library, with work expected to be complete in summer 2027. Bond funds were also used to build a new library in Redmond, which opened in January 2025, and the new Central Library in east Bend, which opened May 2026 to serve all Deschutes County residents.

This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.