Could Winter PrideFest 2026 be the event’s biggest year yet?

Published 8:30 am Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Four-day event includes parties, skiing, dancing, comedy and bingo

Winter PrideFest returns to Bend and Mt. Bachelor this weekend, and 2026 could be the annual shindig’s biggest year to date.

Since drawing just 150 participants in 2018, when OUT Central Oregon began holding Winter PrideFest, the event has flourished. In 2025, it drew more than 2,400 people from across the U.S. and world to the Bend area — largely through word of mouth and marketing, according to OUT Central Oregon board member Bubenik.

“The increase has been huge,” he said. “We’re getting a lot of traction with folks from the Bay Area, Idaho, up into Seattle. Even though our main focus is serving the Central Oregon community, we love seeing folks come in from out of town.”

Winter PrideFest, which opens Thursday night and stretches through Sunday, is the chief fundraiser for OUT Central Oregon, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting visibility, inclusivity and advocacy for LGBTQ+ people by enabling and fostering community engagement.

The weekend-long event serves late-winter positivity, connection and fun indoors and out over the long weekend with inclusive events for queer folks and their allies, including days of skiing at Mt. Bachelor, live comedy, multiple parties, DJs and dancing, a couple of rounds of bingo and more.

PrideFest 2026 events

Thursday evening’s Kick-off Party at UPP Liquids in the Box Factory is the first event out of the gate, happening from 5:30 p.m. to midnight.

“Things really start out on Thursday, with our first party, the reception welcoming folks into town and anyone from the community just to come out and have a little gathering and festivities there,” Bubenik said.

“Come thirsty. Leave glittered” instructs the online description of the event with entertainment from Tila Pia, Heavy Cream, Riley Burrows, Puanani Posse, Aspen Meadows and DJ Violet Hex.

Friday fun

Friday features the first official day of PrideFest skiing at Mt. Bachelor: Ski OUT on the Mountain taking place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit winterpridefest.com to find discounted lift tickets, equipment rentals, lessons and more through Mt. Bachelor for the entire weekend, and 10% of all proceeds purchased with the Mt. Bachelor Discount code (2026MBPF20) benefit OUT Central Oregon.

That day’s ski will be followed by the Pink Party, “a DJ-driven, dance-ready, glitter-friendly mixer,” per the event page, with entertainment from DJ Violet Hex, Tila Pia, Lylac and Jayla Rose at Dogwood at The Pine Shed from 5 p.m. to midnight.

That evening features a second option, queer comedy night at the Tower Theatre, featuring trans writer, comedian and activist Ren Q., along with rising comedians Johana Coca and Shanan Kelley, plus burlesque performances by Angelique DeVil

Snow Ball, bingo

Saturday is “the real mountain day,” said Bubenik, with two group Pride runs at 11 a.m. and noon at the top of Little Pine and Pine Marten Express, respectively.

After morning runs, Dance Party at the Lodge, an après-ski bash at the West Village Lodge, gets underway at noon, with DJ music, mingling and more till 4 p.m.

Saturday evening’s Snow Ball: The White Party is considered the grand finale of Winter PrideFest 2026, with a 21 and over party at Midtown Ballroom and Domino Room. Attendees are encouraged to dress in their fiercest white duds to enjoy the lights, dancing and drag entertainment from Miz Cracker, who headlines alongside Tila Pia, Riley Burrows, Heavy Cream performing to beats provided by DJs Sappho and Violet Hex.

Though the Snow Ball is considered the grand finale, take a seat and round out the weekend with two rounds of Not’Cho Grandma’s Bingo at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Silver Moon Brewing.

“We’re really trying to make it be a holistic event where we find folks come to one, (they) come to all,” Bubenik said.

Also happening during the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, is the 21 and over DIVA Drag Brunch at Campfire Hotel. Along with Bend’s own Fertile Liza and Daphny Diablo, talent will be on hand from around the state: Lylac (Salem), Jayla Rose (Portland), Riley Burrows (Portland), Heavy Cream (Eugene) and Angelique DeVil (Portland), with DJ Violet Hex providing the musical vibes. (Brunch tickets sold separately, at merctickets.com).

OUT’s mission, goals

“Our main goal is to serve the queer community of Central Oregon, with Deschutes (County) being the largest population center, I would say, but we really do serve all the counties here in Central Oregon,” Bubenik said. “We really are just trying to make a community and bring together a community that otherwise hasn’t been well represented in Central Oregon, and building a place and having events that really reach those folks and center on their interests.”

Winter PrideFest has by and large been the nonprofit’s chief focal point, but that’s changing.

“We’re in a growth stage in the organization, moving away from just being this organization that focuses on Winter PrideFest to doing things throughout the year, partnering with other orgs, offering resources and stuff, both on the side of legal and life as well as just fun and stress-relieving opportunities in times that can be pretty difficult politically and otherwise,” he said.

“We’re all ears for what folks want to see in the community and see more of,” said Bubenik, who also heads an organization that gets LGBTQ+ folks out fly-fishing.

“This year, (OUT Central Oregon is) really trying to do more of these outdoor activities, because so often, the outdoors aren’t a safe place for queer folks. So we’re really trying to create those safe spaces in the outdoors and around the community.”

Board members welcome

Due to some members’ recent departures as their tenures on the board ended, OUT is actively seeking new board members and making a conscious effort toward diversity and inclusiveness.

“I would say right now we lean heavily on the male side of things,” Bubenik said. “We really want the community, again, to be well represented on the board, and so that’s been a major focus of ours, and being careful (about) who we do bring on the board.”