Bend’s Welcoming Week is Back

Overview:

Bend's eighth annual Welcoming Week, filled with celebrations and other events, starts today and continues through Sept. 21.

Bend is kicking off its eighth annual Welcoming Week today (September 12-21) with events celebrating the “Stories We Share” — bringing together longtime residents and newcomers through cultural celebrations, conversations and community gatherings.

The City of Bend and St. Charles Health System are leading the charge, but dozens of local organizations are hosting everything from multicultural festivals to health fairs to art workshops throughout the week and weekend.

What’s happening this weekend

This weekend offers several multicultural events in Bend. Friday features family yoga at the Deschutes Public Library, while Saturday brings Culture Jam, the city’s first major multicultural celebration at Open Space Event Studios. The event includes live performances, local vendors, a fashion show and community activities. Sunday concludes the weekend with “Threads of Belonging,” a Ukrainian music, food and storytelling featuring Brothers Ivan at Café des Chutes.

More events through next week

The celebration continues with Spanish-language film discussions at Tower Theatre, art presentations, an affordable housing fair, health screenings, concerts and workshops on community belonging.

Saturday’s Health and Wellness Fair is expected to serve over 200 people with free blood pressure checks, dental services, STI testing, nutritious food and Zumba classes in Spanish.

A variety of events, including dance and music, are scheduled throughout Welcoming Week. Credit: City of Bend

The bigger picture

Bend officially became a “Welcoming City” in 2017 thanks to advocacy from the Latino Community Association. Since then, the annual week has grown into a community-wide effort involving schools, health organizations, libraries, parks and cultural groups.

This year’s event carries particular significance, coming amid contentious debates over diversity, equity and inclusion under the current administration and safety concerns among some community members.

Andrés A. Portela III, the City of Bend’s equity and inclusion director, said “safety has been a central part of our planning and partnership with event organizers from the very beginning.” He added that, “organizers are actively sharing resources, supporting one another and recognizing the importance of collaboration with the City of Bend to ensure a safe and successful series of events.”

All events are designed to bring together immigrants, refugees and longtime residents in spaces for connection and celebration.

2025 Welcoming Week events

• Fri., Sept. 12 – Family Friendly Yoga (Deschutes Public Library)

• Sat., Sept. 13 – Culture Jam (Vamonos Outside, Asian and Pacific

Islander Collective, The Father’s Group)

• Sun., Sept. 14 – Threads of Belonging (Art Sprouts, Inc.)

• Mon., Sept. 15 – Tertulias…¡de película!” at the Tower (Benditas, Tower

Theatre Foundation, Deschutes Public Library)

• Tue., Sept. 16 – Historias a través del Arte en Español (Deschutes Public

Library); Affordable Home Ownership Fair (NeighborImpact, Habitat for Humanity,

Rooted Homes, First Story, Thistle & Nest)

• Thu., Sept. 18 – Your Invisible Neighbor (Community Based Consulting,