Central Oregon is famous for some of its local breweries and beers; some even travel for miles just to get a taste of that unique Northwest flavor.

Well, every year Bend, Oregon holds the Bend Brewfest, a collective event where you can sample some of the best local beers while enjoying some sunshine.

Bend Brewfest 2019 – The Details

Located in the Old Mill District, the Bend Brewfest is held outdoors at the Les Schwab Amphitheater just across from the Deschutes River. The event takes place over three days so you can enjoy each brew responsibly.

Admission to the event is free, but you will need to purchase a souvenir mug and tokens if you plan on tasting anything. Each tasting costs one token; your traditional souvenir mug purchase comes with 5 tokens, but you can purchase more if you wish. You can also buy the collector souvenir mug and get 10 tasting tokens with it.

There is some public transportation available for the Bend Brewfest to ensure that everyone is safe and responsible. The Ride Bend shuttle offers free service to the Old Mill and Les Schwab Amphitheater from noon to 10 pm each day. You can also get a discount on Lyft for the event.

All About The Famous Bend Beer Fest

Held each August, the Bend Brewfest is one of the best ways you can sample all of the local flavors of the breweries in and around Bend. The event features 30 vendors and close to 200 craft beverages.

The sheer size of the event and number of brews available is just one part of the growing beer culture in Bend, which has become known as BeerTown USA. The festival also benefits a variety of local charities.

Beer Tasting at Brewfest Bend

Obviously, the Bend Brewfest is all about the beer. There are 30 vendors with local brews from Central Oregon, and you can taste all of them with your tasting tokens.

You get 5 or 10 tokens with your mug purchase (depending on the package you choose). Each 4-ounce tasting will cost you one token; full beers cost four tokens. If you are planning to attend multiple days and have leftover tokens, you can use them for the duration of the event.

Last call is at 10:30 pm each night, last drink is served at 10:45, and everyone needs to leave by 11:00.

Be sure to check out the Bend Brewfest site for the full 2019 brewery lineup.

Les Schwab Amphitheater Bend

Built in 2001, the Les Schwab Amphitheater is a staple landmark in Bend in the Historic Old Mill District. Throughout the year, they host many big concerts as well as events like the Bend Brewfest.

The venue – which boasts a casual and friendly outdoor setting – accommodates about 8,000 patrons on average for their events. If you are interested in their other concerts and events throughout the year, visit the venue’s website.

Food Carts at Bend Oregon Brewfest

You can always count on some great food finds at the Bend Brewfest in addition to good brews. There are several food carts around the venue offering everything from barbeque to drunken noodles.

They have not announced the food vendors for this year yet, but you can check out the Bend Brewfest site for the list of last year’s vendors as many of them are likely to return for the 2019 event.

Brewfest Bend and Artisan Vendors

If you are just visiting Bend for the Brewfest or you are attending the event on your extended vacation, you may be interested in the local artisan vendors at the event. You can take home some unique, hand-crafted items to share with friends and family or to keep for yourself.

Some of these vendors include hand-crafted wood ornaments, beer-related keepsakes, kilts, and jewelry that highlights craft beer.

Family friendly Bend Brew Fest

The nice thing about the Bend Brewfest is that it is family friendly. Children of all ages are welcome to enjoy the outdoor festival with their families – without drinking of course. Parents will be required to sign a pledge of responsibility in order to ensure there is no underage drinking.

Pets are not allowed into the event for their safety and for the cleanliness of the venue. Service pets, however, are welcome. All guests under the age of 21 are also asked to leave the venue after 5 pm.

Where to stay for the Bend Oregon Beer Festival

Thankfully with the Bend Brewfest being location right in the Old Mill District, there are plenty of hotels nearby to accommodate those staying for the duration of the event.

The closest hotels are the Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, MyPlace Hotel, SpringHill Suites, and Residence Inn.

There are also some great Airbnb locations nearby as well, including Deschutes Nest and Riverside Cottage. Looking for a B&B, the Mill Inn and Lara House are great choices.

If one of these accommodations didn’t fit your needs, here are some more recommendations for places to stay in Bend, Oregon: the best hotels in Bend, Airbnb in Bend and Bed and Breakfast in Bend.