Grand Craft Bend is thrilled to announce the 2nd annual Bend Brews & Beyond which will again feature more than 50 Oregon breweries and cideries with every locally-owned Central Oregon hopped, appled, and honeyed beverage producer invited, as well as over a dozen non-alcoholic beverage makers, allowing everyone to celebrate together whether they feel like drinking alcohol moderately or not at all.
The festival takes place in downtown Bend’s Drake Park (777 NW Riverside Dr.) on Saturday, May 23 from noon to 9 p.m. The event is still 21+ only and tickets are required for all attendees. Early bird tickets are just $26 and now on sale through March 16. From March 17 through May 22, tickets are lower—yes cheaper not more expensive—than last year and include admission, souvenir mug and 5 drink tokens. Online price is $35 for alcohol and $25 for non-alcohol passes. Tickets are limited and the event may sell out. If available, tickets will be $45 alc./$35 non-alc. at the gates. Early bird tickets are now available at BendBrewsAndBeyond.com.
Bend Brews & Beyond encompasses the tremendous state of Oregon-made beers with over 100 beers available including specialty beers in the Next-Tap biergarten helmed by the Central Oregon Homebrewers Organization (COHO). Of course, there will be plenty of ciders, non-alcoholic beers, hop waters, kombuchas, cold brew and beyond. New this year is the addition of a dedicated Hempgarten for all hemp-derived CBD and/or Delta 9 infused beverages. The event is also small enough to be thoroughly enjoyable and not overcrowded. Attendance will be limited to 5,000 people.
Also new for 2026 is the Bend Bands & Brewers Bash. This festival within a festival—included with admission–features bands collaborating with breweries to create beers “that taste like their music sounds” and those beers will be available at the main stage. What’s more, these beers will be available by the full mug instead of simply as samples so as to thoroughly enjoy the suds throughout the sets.
Because local craft breweries and producers are far from faceless corporations, most of the brewers will be pouring during the Meet the Makers session from 3-5 p.m. And attendees are encouraged to don their funkiest pants to strut their stuff at the return of the Bend Drinking Pants Pageant. Winners will be judged both by what they wear and how they wear it. It’s “the most fun you’ll have with your pants on.”
Several of Bend’s most beloved food trucks will be on site. Everyone is encouraged to drink responsibly and make plans to arrive and depart safely with transportation options being announced soon. In addition to bike parking, there will again be SUP, tube, and kayak parking for those wishing to float to the fest and as a reward for not driving riders, floaters, and paddlers will receive a bonus drink token from the valet.
The festival benefits the Oregon Brewers Guild, a nonprofit organization promoting and protecting Oregon Craft Beer since 1992, making it one of the nation’s oldest craft brewers associations.
