Winter PrideFest in Bend Oregon — Complete Gay Travel Guide
Winter Pride is coming back next year in Bend Oregon and Mt. Bachelor with Winter PrideFest! The Pride Party consists of multiple events and group activities throughout the weekend and is quickly becoming one of the largest Winter Pride celebrations in the USA. Here’s everything you need to know about attending Winter PrideFest.
Throughout Oregon you can find Pride-Certified hotels, queer-owned tour companies, independent organizations that seek to celebrate pride, inclusivity and a love of the outdoors with various year-round events, including Hood River Winter Pride in February and Bend Winter PrideFest in March.
What is Bend Winter PrideFest?
Since 2018, OUT Central Oregon has hosted Winter PrideFest to celebrate Pride, Inclusivity, and a combined love for the outdoors. In 2018, there were just 150 participants showing up in the mountains to celebrate Pride. Now, over 1,500 participants flock to the gorgeous Cascade Mountains to party with Winter PrideFest through a variety of events. For the most important info and frequently asked questions, check out our FAQ on Winter PrideFest at the end of this article.
Where to Stay for Winter PrideFest — Gay-Friendly Accommodations in Bend, Oregon
Stay at Campfire Hotel
The centerpiece and highlight of Campfire Hotel is its bright blue heated seasonal pool. It quite literally is the hot-spot at the hotel and at any given point in during Winter PrideFest weekend will be hosting quite a few queers enjoying a beverage poolside. If you stay at the Campfire Hotel, you’re sure to be in the middle of all the action during Bend’s Winter Pride.
By night, The Canteen Bar, connected to Campfire Hotel’s lobby hosts a variety of strong drinks and great tunes. During Winter PrideFest, there may be a DJ or two playing a set in the cozy barspace. It’s a pretty roucous tight-knit dance party! We also loved hanging out around the 10-ft Campfire Pit after dark. The front desk even has guitars to borrow and play around the fire.
LGBTQ+ Events and Nightlife in Bend During Winter PrideFest
Winter PrideFest Welcoming 'Snocial'
On opening night, the weekend warms up with a Winter PrideFest ‘Snocial’. This was a perfect way to start the weekend, mixing and mingling with other queer folx who’ve made the trek into the mountains. Food and drink is available in and outside the heated tent space. Though the location varies for where the ‘Snocial’ is held every year, 2024’s celebration overlooked the Deschutes River right in the heart of the Old Mill District and featured drag performances by Willam! Amongst the food trucks, TOTS! and Masa Empanadas stole the show.
Queer Comedy Night with Dana Goldberg
If Dana Goldberg’s comedy routine were a book, it would be banned in Florida. Queer Comedy Night is hosted by one of the top LGBTQ comedians in the USA.
Mt. Bachelor Lodge Party
After some well-deserved time on the slopes, it was perfect to get inside Mt. Bachelor’s West village Lodge to enjoy live music with DJ Dustin Riley and party host, WILLAM. Pride party favorites were played for all to dance to before finishing out the day skiing and snowboarding.
Campfire Hotel Pool Party
A fan favorite of the entire weekend, the Campfire Pool Party takes place at Campfire Hotel’s big blue heated pool. The pool literally is filled to the brim with Pride attendees ready to cheers to great gay-favorites and beats from a live DJ. The rosé is flowing at this party and I highly recommend not missing it! It was my favorite party of the weekend.
Winter PrideFest Dance Party
Perhaps the party with the biggest ‘bang’ is Winter PrideFest’s Queer Dance Party. Featuring several drag performances, the space is filled with LGBTQ+ people and allies all coming together to dance late into the night.
Winter Pride Drag Brunch
Winter PrideFest’s finale and final event concludes with an epic Drag Brunch. Closing out the festival, drag queens from Portland and Central Oregon dance their hearts out and share some hilarious moments. It’s a great time, and truly made me excited to come back to Bend for Winter Pride next year.
Top LGBTQ+ Outdoor Adventures in Bend, Oregon
There are too many great outdoor activities to choose from in Bend. With Mt. Bachelor just 30 minutes away, Deschutes National Forest right outside of town, and endless hiking trails to choose from, it’s difficult to narrow it down to just a few. Here are the top gay-friendly activities, outdoor adventures, and tours in Bend, Oregon.
Guided Snowshoe & Bonfire with Wanderlust Tours
This is a real treat. As a novice snowshoe-er, exploring the mountains under the starry sky was a beautiful experience. The hike led us to a hand-carved amphitheater in the snow complete with snow-carved chairs surrounding a glowing bonfire waiting for us. After some much needed dessert and hot cocoa (complete with Hazelnut Espresso Vodka) a hike back was enjoyed in the tranquil peace of Deschutes National Forest.
Experience the Outdoors at Fir Haven Retreats
For eco-conscious travelers, LGBTQ+ owned Fir Haven Retreats is set to open in August 2024 in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The 20-acre property will feature 14 private, modern A-frame-style cabins surrounded by forest, along with sites for traditional tent camping. With an emphasis on regenerative tourism, stewardship experiences will range from salmon rehabilitation to trail restoration. A communal base-camp for guests includes wellness amenities like an onsen-style cedar hot tub, a sauna and a cold plunge, a stargazing yoga platform and a campfire area.
Hit the Slopes on Mt. Bachelor
Whether you’re a novice or an expert skier or snowboarder, Mt. Bachelor is arguably the most sought after location for skiing and snowboarding in Oregon. The slopes are well maintained and lined with gorgeous ponderosa pines. There are two main lodges at the base of the mountain with a shuttle that operates every 15 minutes to transit patrons from one side to the other. There’s a variety of paths with differing skill levels, and lesson offerings every day of the week. For the record, as far as food goes in ski-lodges, Mt. Bachelor provides some of the best and most diverse dishes I’ve had!
Visit the High Desert Museum
The High Desert Museum opened in 1982, bringing together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of the High Desert. For your dose of history, culture, and all things quintessentially Central Oregon, make a visit and learn what Bend is all about.
Top Gay-Owned and Gay-Friendly Restaurants in Bend
Get Breakfast at Turtle Island Coffee
Opened in the summer of 2023, Turtle Island Coffee is the first open space for indigenous, brown, black, queer, trans, two-spirited, non-binary folx in Downtown Bend. The food is incredible. Locally sourced from indigenous partners in Central Oregon, Turtle Island serves a variety of Native Inspired dishes including a Smoked Columbia River Coho Salmon Bowl. I also recommend trying their fresh-made rainbow bagels! The queer-owned coffee shop prides itself in being a safe space for those who are marginalized in white, cisgendered, and heteronormative-dominated spaces. The space is welcoming to all people of all communities, including allies entering with a humble heart.
Cure Your Hangover at Royal Juice Company
As a proud LGBTQ and woman-owned business in downtown Bend, Royal Juice Company and Royal Remedies were founded with the intention to bring “plant medicine to every-BODY”. The organic and botanically infused raw juices are delicious, and honestly the perfect cure for a hangover! Every juice flavor is formulated to maximize the health benefits contained in each ingredient.
Lunch at Bo's Falafel
This local LGBTQ+ owned eatery specializes in, you guessed it, great falafel. Open from 8:00 to 14:00 Wednesday through Sunday, Bo’s Falafel serves a killer breakfast and lunch menu. Try the Big Fries, Hummus, and a gigantic falafel sandwich with toppings of your choice. This is an amazing spot for vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike, as everyone needs a little more falafel in their life.
Dinner at Spork
Not only a great restaurant, but a venue for many annual LGBTQ+ events. Spork is owned and operated by a true ally of the local queer community. A staple to downtown Bend, Spork features a variety of hot recipes from chef and co-owner Jeff Hunt. Focusing on flavor profiles throughout Eastern Asia’s street food culture, there’s still a surprising array of influences from around the globe. Most surprisingly, a Peruvian Lomo-Saltado remixed into asian-streetfood. Spork is a centerpiece to Bend’s downtown. On any given evening you’ll find this hotspot with a long line of patrons excited to order and get their fill of innovative flavors in a surprising location.
Fresh-Baked Pastries at Sparrow Bakery
The LGBTQ+ owned Sparrow Bakery serves seriously delicious baked goods, and it’s right en route to Mt. Bachelor! The food is not only beautiful, but it’s made from scratch. Try their pastries, fresh-baked bread, or savory soups and sandwiches.
Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House
A taste of the mountains. Deschutes Brewery and Public House is an LGBTQ+ welcoming space that serves well known and locally brewed beer alongside great lunch and dinner dishes. No visit to Bend is complete without trying a Deschutes beer! As a local Oregonian, I always recommend trying an IPA.
Why Should You Go To Winter PrideFest in Bend?
Oregon has a reputation as being a super diverse and queer-friendly state. This extends outwards from Portland, even to some of the smaller communities. Bend Oregon is growing, and its LGBTQ+ community with it! Many LGBTQ+ owned businesses and safe spaces are starting to open and show their colors in Bend’s gorgeous downtown and Old Mill districts. As Central Oregon becomes a more diverse and welcoming space, it’s important to show our support and not only to the local businesses there, but to the LGBTQ+ community that thrives there. Attending Bend’s Winter PrideFest is not only a blast, but it’s a nod of support and ally-ship to the growing community.
Winter PrideFest FAQ
When is Winter PrideFest?
Winter PrideFest is typically held during the second weekend of March, with events starting on Wednesday and concluding on Sunday. In 2024, Winter PrideFest was held from March 6th to the 10th. Dates for Winter PrideFest 2025 have yet to be officially announced. Check Winter PrideFest’s official website for the latest news on Bend’s next Pride celebration.
Where is Winter PrideFest?
The main events for Winter Pride are held in and around Bend Oregon, centered around the Old Mill District, Downtown Bend, and Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort.
What are the events at Winter PrideFest?
The events vary from year to year, but the layout for 2024’s celebration is listed below. For more info on each event, check out LGBTQ+ Events and Nightlife in Bend During Winter PrideFest.
WEDNESDAY - Equality Vines Winemaker's Dinner with Jim Obergefell @ BOSA 5:30pm-9:30pm (reservation required)
THURSDAY - Welcoming 'Snocial' 5pm-10pm
FRIDAY - Ski On The Mountain at Mt. Bachelor (all day), WIGS! An Icebreaker 5pm-9pm, Queer Comedy Night 8pm-11pm, Snowshoe and Bonfire 7pm-11pm
SATURDAY - West Village Lodge Party 11:30am-2pm, Campfire Hotel Pride Pool Party 2pm-6pm, Winter PrideFest Dance Party 8pm-12am
SUNDAY - Drag Brunch at Volcanic Theater Pub 11:30am-2pm
How can I purchase tickets for Winter PrideFest?
You can purchase your tickets in advance to Winter PrideFest on the official website through OUT Central Oregon. There are several options to purchase, either tickets to individual events, or to get a bundle pass for multiple events. You can purchase lift tickets from Mt. Bachelor’s official website.
What should I pack for Winter PrideFest? (What should I Wear to Winter PrideFest?)
This was the question I was asking myself before heading to the mountains. First and foremost, pack for the weather. Pack your ski or snowboarding gear, a winter jacket, boots, and snow pants. Most events are either held indoors or in a heated covered area, you should prepare for winter weather, but in the heated areas most will have regular wear - flannels, long-sleeved shirts, jeans, sweater or a light jacket. For the dance parties, tanktops, mesh, glitter, heels, boots, rainbows, wigs, whatever fits your fancy. Unlike Pride in the summer, people definitely wear more layers at the dance parties here. There’s typically a coatcheck available, so truly you can wear what is comfortable without issue.
As one of the top travel destinations in Oregon, it can be easy to get overwhelmed with the number of options of things to do in and around Bend. One of the best aspects of Bend is it’s geographic location and the diversity in landscape this lends. As the Cascade Mountains meet the High Desert in Central Oregon, a diverse and dramatic landscape beckons to be explored. From hiking, rock-climbing, skiing and snowboarding, camping and whitewater rafting, there are tons of tour options to explore for the adventurous soul.
Here are the top things to do in Bend from a local: