Seventh Mountain Resort's food drive runs through Thanksgiving Day and benefits The Giving Plate.

Seventh Mountain Resort, which has brought ice skating to Bendites since the ‘70s, celebrates its official opening this week.

To kick off the season, the resort is hosting its annual food drive benefitting The Giving Plate, which runs through Thanksgiving Day. Guests who donate five cans of non-perishable food receive a free ice-skating session or a $20 discount on a season pass ($270 for adults or $230 for children at full price).

All of those cans of food add up. Since beginning the effort, Recreation Manager Justin Wellman estimates, the resort donated 1,800 pounds of food in its most successful year. But last year, that number was closer to 600 pounds.

“Before COVID, it was a really, really successful event. When COVID happened, it dropped off, but we’re starting to build it back up again,” Wellman said.

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On the heels of the food drive is Seventh Mountain’s second annual winter bazaar, held in the Three Sisters Ballroom. At the time of writing, 22 vendors were signed up for the event, poised to sell specialty products such as alpaca sweaters, mushroom-infused tea and jewelry with locally sourced gemstones.

Wellman said he hopes to draw in ski traffic on the first day of the holiday bazaar on Nov. 24, when Mt. Bachelor hosts its opening day.

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If You Go

What: Seventh Mountain’s food drive

When: Open ice-skating hours for the public through Thursday

Cost: $15 adults, $12 children or free ice skating session or $20 discount on season pass with 5 cans of food

What: Seventh Mountain’s Winter Bazaar

When: noon-6 p.m. Nov. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 26

Cost: Free

Where: Seventh Mountain Resort, 18575 SW Century Drive, Bend

Contact: seventhmountainriverco.com, 541-693-9124