Cascade Festival of Music

Tickets for the popular annual music festival in Bend, Oregon may be available if you act fast! Events at the Cascade Festival of Music began in April 2008. Featured performances included "Straight No Chaser," the highly entertaining a capella Men's Choir from Indiana University, which performed on April 5, 2008. Among the August performances scheduled this year, on August 24, 2008, the World Music Series, "The Blues Women of Portland," will be shown. "An Evening of Brahms," is the featured event on Monday, August 25. "Festival POPS!" will be shown on August 26. Purchase your tickets now because these performances often sell out!

Each year, the Festival is the region's largest cultural musical event. Eight days of classical orchestral, music events, children's music, pops, and lectures are held in beautiful downtown Drake Park, next to the Deschutes River. This year's event marks the Festival's 26th year. Sadly, due to budget cuts, the venue will be changed to local high schools in order to save approximately $100,000. While the performances will definitely thrill audiences to the same degree, there will certainly be some loss of the special ambiance that the outdoor setting offered in the warm, August sunshine. The Festival hopes to return to Drake Park for the 2009 production with a balanced budget.

Tickets for events generally range between $25 (value seating) to $50 (premier seating). Tickets can be purchased in advance online, which is highly recommended as you can select your seats! Special catered food will be available at the performances. Last year, the popular restaurant, Merenda offered appetizers, dinners, and delicate desserts on the park in the setting sun.

The Cascade Festival of Music also sponsors the annual production of the Nutcracker Ballet each December. If you would like to be a donor to the Cascade Festival of Music, you can visit its website.

There are many fine places to stay in Bend, if you are not a native. Bed and Breakfasts abound, and there are a number of condos and hotels. The area is a prime tourist location year-round. In winter, skiers and snowboarders come to enjoy sports on Mt. Bachelor, 25 minutes west of the town. Downhill and cross-country skiing, skate-skiing, snow-shoeing, etc. In the summer, you can fly-fish, hike, swim, bike and generally enjoy the sunny weather here in Bend. After all, they don't call it the high desert for nothing!

The city has grown in population recently, but still has a charming small-town feel. Yet, cultural amenities of larger cities, including fine dining, musical performances and film festivals (see my related hub on Bend FilmFest) are part of the scene here in Bend! Come and see what its all about.