Stacey Donohue has attended the Little Woody beer festival since it began in 2009. “Even during Covid,” she says. “I went with a friend, and it was Covid and smokey.” Her reaction to this being the last Little Woody? “It’s devastating.”
The iconic Little Woody celebrates regional barrel-aged beers. The event, which is only for adults 21 or older, also offers whiskey, cider and wine.
“It was actually the brainchild of some folks at Deschutes Brewery. They wanted something that was really interesting for brewers to create and be a part of. That’s how we came up with the wood caskets,” explains Aaron Switzer, owner of Lay It Out Events, which produces the festival.
It’s held outside the Deschutes Historical Society, which is also a beneficiary of the event. Switzer says, over the years, the beer fest has raised more than $40,000 for the museum. This year, Little Woody will be one day only, Saturday Aug. 29, but in past years it started on Friday and was traditionally held over Labor Day weekend.
“We’d go Friday night. We’d get there right at four or five, whenever it opened and there’d be a table of 10 of us. The same table. Pretty much the same people for years,” Donohue says. The Little Woody atmosphere is more retreat than event.
“I like it because it is cozier,” says Bruce Moon, who’s been going for several years with half a dozen friends. “They have grass that you can go to once you grab a beer. You can sit on the grass and they have live music. Just the atmosphere under the trees by the historical museum is a lot nicer than being out where everything’s in tents… It’s just a comfortable, easy, relaxed time.”
Beyond the beverages, the festival’s mascot has developed a following of its own.
“Little Woody is the only beer fest I have attended that features a theme, gnomes. All other beer fests usually revolve around a beer style…or feature a particular brewery,” longtime festival goer Lynn Wren says. “This theme, the swag they offer each year related to all things Gnomes makes this a really fun and creative beer fest,” she says.
Switzer explains that the artist, Carlos Perez, who created the logo, decided to include a gnome. “When he created the gnome carrying the barrel, it just spawned all kinds of t-shirt designs and merchandise and people loved it… People kind of organically started showing up as gnomes.”
Those who’ve embraced the mythical creature are dubbed gnomies. Wren, herself, became one.
“I sew, so I made two hats that kind of look like gnome hats that curve up at the top out of felted wool from old sweaters that I felted,” Wren says. “Onto those we stuck in a bunch of dried plants and wrapped hops vines. And then I wore a dress that was kind of tie-dyeish… My husband wore a shirt I had made years ago that was hand-stitched and embroidered…and some baggy pants and boots.”
In addition to the costume contest, there will be a fairy tale trivia contest. A gnome comedy competition begins at 5:30pm. Comedians will have five minutes to win over the crowd. Winners will be measured in decibels with the comedian earning the loudest response taking home a cash prize. Live music begins at 7pm. At the whiskey tent, sponsored by 503 Distilling, there will be a discussion on whiskey and distilling at 4pm. Plus, of course, it’s an opportunity to purchase Last Little Woody merchandise including tasting glasses, t-shirts and gnome swag.
But the main attraction, and what’s built a dedicated fan base over the years, are the beers.
“They always bring in a really great complement of beers,” Wren says. “It’s sours and darks and IPAs and lagers. It’s a little bit of everything.”
“The barrel-aged beer. It’s really amazing beer,” Donohue says. Her friend Chad Brindle agrees.
“It’s unique. It’s one of a kind,” he says about the festival.
When asked why this is the last hurrah for Little Woody, Switzer said interest from breweries doesn’t seem to be there.
“The trend in craft beer is away from large festivals,” he explains. “Now, due to the proliferation of food carts and the large offerings you have in grocery stores, people can create a lot of these experiences on their own. In order to create these kind of beers, breweries have to have the bandwidth internally to play. After the pandemic, people are doing what they need to get by, so it makes it hard to ask them to carve out the time to come up with these individually crafted beers for one weekend.”
Switzer is estimating about 17 breweries will participate this year, which is down from previous years.
“There has been an enormous outpouring of support and sympathy for the situation that beer festivals are in,” he says. “And right now, we are very excited about the new format with one day where we can get everybody together and really have a big party.”
Even without Little Woody, the beer run that accompanies it will continue in future years. But the loss of Little Woody will leave a hole in the hearts of those who hold it dear.
“It’s really sad. Nobody’s happy about it,” Wren says. “It will be missed by many, many people.”
“It’s too bad. It’s really sad,” Moon says about losing the festival. “If I’m going to go to any of them, that’s the one.”
“It’s so unique. The Woody is really a unique little gem,” Switzer says. “Let’s go out on a high note and really have a good time this year.”
Little Woody is produced by Lay It Out Events, which is owned by the same company as the Source.
The Last Little Woody
Sat, Aug 29 Noon-9pm
Deschutes Historical Museum
129 NW Idaho Ave, Bend
thelittlewoody.com/
$20+
This article appears in the Source July 30, 2026.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
