Drake Park Bend

Drake Park, just west of downtown Bend, is the city’s de facto living room—and one of its most popular destinations. The forested park sits at a curve in the Deschutes River and hosts plenty of shady space for picnicking, several pieces of public art, paved walking trails, and roughly a half-mile of riverfront views. Anglers enjoy fishing from the riverbank, and those floating the river in summer take their tubes out at the southern edge of the park—making it a popular meeting spot for locals and visitors alike. Every autumn, colorful foliage covers the park in a blanket of red, orange, and yellow. All year long, nearby Cascade Range peaks rise above the horizon. In spring and summer, Drake Park routinely hosts a variety of events. Every Independence Day, for instance, Bend’s July 4th Pet Parade—starring the many pets of Central Oregon—ends at the park. Later in summer, the popular Munch & Music festival features free concerts from local and regional acts on Thursdays between mid-July and mid-August. As part of the festivities, concertgoers enjoy food from local vendors and beer, wine, cider, and cocktails from local purveyors.