This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Central Oregon Wildflower Show and Pollinator Festival, sponsored by the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory on June 27. This annual event highlights the beauty of native wildflowers and flowering shrubs, and their relationships with a diversity of pollinator species, and coincides with National Pollinator Week, June 22-28. In addition to the main festival, several other events are planned to get your natural side in full bloom.
“Multiple partners are involved in planning this year’s wildflower show, including groups like Pollinator Pathway Bend and Worthy Garden Club, who both focus the bulk of their education on creating habitat for native pollinators using native plants,” said Lisa Sanco, Worthy Garden Club’s executive director. “We’ve planned a series of events in the week leading up to the actual show, including trivia nights and an educational talk on the ecological impact of native plants in home landscapes, so learning opportunities will absolutely abound!”
On Monday, June 22, there will be two free Trivia Night programs to challenge your pollinator and plant knowledge. One will be at Worthy Brewing Company in Bend (5–7:30pm) and the other one will be held at the Century Commons Food Trucks & Taps in the Sunriver Business Park (6–8pm). No reservations are required but space is limited.
Clair Hafer of The Garden Specialists LLC will present “Know Your Native Plants” on Wednesday, June 24, 6pm at the Worthy Brewing Company. The program is free but space is limited; sign up on Eventbrite. While you’re at Worthy, don’t forget to check out the native plant gardens for some native plants landscaping ideas.
Thursday night, June 25, Dr. Rick Martinson will present “Why is Central Oregon so Biodiverse?” from 4–5pm at the SHARC in Sunriver. Registration for the free talk is through the Sunriver You website.
“We are stoked to bring native wildflowers blooming in this region for the public to admire at the Wildflower & Pollinator Show,” said Mara Huang, Native Plant Society of Oregon High Desert chapter president. “We hope that the public will learn a lot about native plants and pollinators from this event and learn to have a deeper appreciation for it afterwards!”
A full slate of wildflower walks and various talks on topics such as fire-resistant landscaping, creating pollinator-friendly gardens, plant identification, pollinator Q&A, a watercolor workshop and even a program by the Observatory staff on how plants connect earth to space. Another highlight of the event is the wildflower display table which showcases blooming plants from the High Desert to the Cascade Mountains.
“This will be the 35th year of the Wildflower Show in Sunriver, and while visitors will enjoy the usual displays of wildflowers from across the region (and beyond), there will be a bit more focus on how drought conditions change the natural landscape, and how wildflowers respond to those changes,” said Gwen Bartonek, Pollinator Pathway Bend president.
There will be kid-friendly activities, information booths, vendors and food trucks to keep everyone happy and entertained. And to top it off, attendees can express their inner “bee” during the Pollinator Waggle Dance at noon.
“This spring, the volunteers of PPB worked with SNCO staff to help rejuvenate the newly fenced Botanical Garden at the SNCO Nature Center,” added Bartonek. “This hidden gem has been an example of the diversity and resiliency of High Desert ecosystems for many years.”
Make sure to purchase festival tickets early for a discount! Participants are encouraged to bike or walk to the event, or park at the Sunriver Marina where a shuttle van will be available throughout the day. For up-to-date information or to purchase tickets, visit the Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory’s website.
Central Oregon Wildflower Show and Pollinator Festival
Sat, June 27 9am-3pm
Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory
57245 River Road, Sunriver
snco.app.neoncrm.com
Adults $12, Child 15 & under Free, Prices go up $3 at the door.
This article appears in the Source June 18, 2026.
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