Kid and family events for this holiday week in Central Oregon

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, November 27, 2024

With kids out of school, there are plenty of events to get them and the whole family out of the house this Thanksgiving week.

Run or walk with the family and get some pie Thanksgiving morning, take the kids to see Santa the day after or attend a variety of story times and creative classes happening in Central Oregon.

I Like Pie Thanksgiving Fun Run

Start Thanksgiving morning with a festive walk or run out of the Old Mill District. Participants can choose between a 1.5-mile or 5K loop to burn off some pre-Thanksgiving calories. There will be pie waiting at the finish along with music and photo opportunities. All proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bend.

Thursday 7:30 a.m.; $40, $20 youth; Old Mill District, 450 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 422, Bend; facebook.com/events/542613101519943 or 541-312-0131.

SantaLand

Old Mill’s holiday celebration kicks off the day after Thanksgiving with Santa Claus’ arrival at 10 a.m. on Friday. Santa will land in the district via an AirLink Critical Care Transport and Deschutes County Search and Rescue team helicopter. Then Santa will be in the district for Santaland the next four weekends leading up to Christmas.

Families are welcome to take photos and have the youngsters chat and share their wishes with Santa. Kids can also bring a letter for the North Pole Express Mailbox that sits outside Santaland. (All letters will receive a handwritten response. No postage required.)

While at Santaland, visit the Tree of Joy, a project of the Rotary Club of Greater Bend that provides holiday gifts for children and families in need.

Finally, don’t forget to bring your little one’s letter to Santa! A special North Pole Express Mailbox sits outside of SantaLand, and all letters will receive a handwritten response. (No postage stamp is required. If the child would like to receive a letter back, though, be sure to include a return address on the envelope.)

Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Old Mill District, 450 SW Powerhouse Drive, Suite 422, Bend; oldmilldistrict.com or 541-312-0131.

Storytime with Sloth

For all little book lovers, this weekly story time features books, songs and coloring time Sunday morning. All ages are welcome.

Sunday 10-11 a.m.; free; Paulina Springs Books, 252 W. Hood Ave., Sisters; paulinaspringsbooks.com or 541-549-0866.

Slightly Nerdy Paint Parties

Get into the holiday spirit with a Jack & Sally Christmas paint class at Modern Games. Celebrate the season by creating a festive painting. This is a relaxing and enjoyable experience that will get your creative juices flowing. All ages welcome with an adult.

Monday 6-8 p.m.; $45; Modern Games, 550 SW Industrial, Suite 150, Bend; letspaintclasses.art.

Family Story Time

These family story times have stories, songs and rhymes designed to support early literacy skill development, social emotional awareness and family engagement.

Wednesday 9:30-10 a.m.; Downtown Bend Public Library, 601 NW Wall St., Bend; deschuteslibrary.org or 541-617-7050.

Wednesday 10:30-11 a.m.; Sisters Library, 110 N. Cedar St., Sisters; deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1070.

Wednesday 10:30-11 a.m.; Sunriver Library, 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver; deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1080.