The days are growing shorter but that doesn’t mean you can’t pack them full of fun and splendor for “Know Merriment” this December. Take a DIY approach to gift giving with creative holiday cards, tasty seasonal shrubs, and community gift-wrapping parties. Enjoy sounds of the season from the Redmond Community Choir, Central Oregon Mastersingers, and Ridgeview High School’s a cappella choir. Play a reader’s theater part in A Christmas Carol and make satisfying winter salads perfect for any occasion. Kids can create train-inspired paintings, attend toddler jump time, and mix up healthy gift recipes in a jar. All programs are free and open to the public. Programs marked with an asterisk (*) require registration.
Caroling by Central Oregon Mastersingers
An ensemble of the Central Oregon Mastersingers sings traditional carols and fun arrangements of holiday classics among the stacks.
- Tuesday, December 3 • 3:30-4:00 p.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend
Shutter Holiday Card-making Workshop*
Share in the holiday spirit and create an eye-catching card using a sliding shutters technique to reveal a hidden design. Registration required.
- Tuesday, December 3 • 5:30 p.m. • La Pine Library | 16425 1st Street, La Pine
Wreath-Making Workshop*
Learn to hand-tie beautiful holiday greenery wreaths and add extra touches such as cones, berries, bows and more for a unique and personal holiday decoration. These events are full.
- Tuesday, December 3 • 5:30 p.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend
- Thursday, December 5 • 1:30 p.m. • Sunriver Library | 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver
Bubbles: Sparkling Wine Class*
Eat, drink, and be merry as we taste our way through a flight of four sparkling wines, including a French Crémant, Italian Lambrusco, Italian Prosecco, and Spanish Cava with light appetizer pairings. This event is full.
- Wednesday, December 4 • 5:00 p.m. • Arome |432 SW 6th St, Redmond
Snowshoeing in Central Oregon*
Join Bob Timmer and Kelly Cleman of the Central Oregon Nordic Club to learn about gear, sno-park info, and the more than 28 miles of dedicated snowshoe trails. Attend this program online or in person; registration required for online access.
- Wednesday, December 4 • 6:00 p.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend
Train Man Tiny Art Paintings*
Celebrate this time-honored tradition by creating a train-inspired tiny painting (6” x 6” canvas) to be shown in the Downtown Bend Library display case. This event is full.
- Saturday, December 7 • 9:30 a.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend
Singers from the Redmond Community Choir
A group of 15 select singers from the Redmond Community Choir will be performing holiday songs from their upcoming Sounds of the Season concert.
- Saturday, December 7 • noon • High Desert Music Hall | 818 SW Forest Avenue, Redmond
Community Gift-Wrapping Party*
Come together with your neighbors and experience the tradition of gift-wrapping in a fun and festive setting. We’ll provide a variety of wrapping paper, upcycled materials, bags, craft supplies, and many ideas to personalize your gifts, but also encourage you to bring sharable materials to make this a sustainable event. Registration required.
- Saturday, December 7 • 2:00-4:00 p.m. • La Pine Library | 16425 1st Street, La Pine
- Wednesday, December 18 • 4:00-6:00 p.m. • Sisters Library | 110 North Cedar Street, Sisters
- Friday, December 20 • 4:00-6:00 p.m. • East Bend Library | 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend
- Saturday, December 21 • noon-2:00 p.m. • Sunriver Library | 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver
Stranger Drawings: A Drawing & Writing Playshop*
Anyone can participate in this multi-step guided process that makes use of pen, paper, simple art tools, and curiosity. Discover connections through creativity and leave with a handmade booklet. Registration required.
- Sunday, December 8 • 10:00 a.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend
Tasty Holidays! Making Flavored Vinegars and Shrubs*
Infuse your holidays with a hands-on session that guides participants through the art of making flavored vinegars and shrubs, perfect for adding a unique touch to your holiday events. This event is full.
- Sunday, December 8 • 1:00 p.m. • Downtown Bend Library | 601 NW Wall Street, Bend
Ravensong Choir Holiday Performance
Enjoy holiday tunes with Ridgeview High School’s premier a cappella choir. These students share a passion for musical excellence, community building, and a love for singing.
- Wednesday, December 11 • 1:30 p.m. • East Bend Library | 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend
- Monday, December 16 • 2:00 p.m. • High Desert Music Hall | 818 SW Forest Avenue, Redmond
Winter Salads*
Learn to make wholesome winter salads that use the best of this season’s offerings. These recipes are easy enough to make great, simple side salads for every day or the holidays. Registration required.
- Friday, December 13 • 2:00 p.m. • Becky Johnson Community Center | 412 SW 8th Street, Redmond
- Sunday, December 15 • 1:00 p.m. • East Bend Library | 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend
Plays Out Loud: A Christmas Carol
Spend an evening reading an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol, with friends and neighbors. We randomly assign roles and then have some fun with Scrooge, Marley, Fezziwig, Tiny Tim, and all the rest.
- Sunday, December 15 • 5:30 p.m. • SCP Hotel | 521 SW 6th Street, Redmond
Cozy Winter Storytelling
Enjoy winter stories with storyteller and teacher Matthew Friday. This program is intended for elementary school-aged children, but open to all; all children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
- Monday, December 16 • 5:30 p.m. • East Bend Library | 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend
Jump for Joy: Toddler Time at Mountain Air*
Join Mountain Air Trampoline Park for an exclusive toddler-time jump session and hear amazing stories read by Ms. Meredith from the Assistance League of Bend. This program is intended for children ages 5 and under; all children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Registration required.
- Tuesday, December 17 • 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. • Mountain Air Trampoline Park | 20495 Murray Rd #150, Bend
Holiday in a Jar*
Learn about cooking and measurements, and create a ready-made cornbread mix and a chili mix to take home or give as a gifts. This program is intended for children ages 6 and up; all children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Registration required.
- Wednesday, December 18 • 1:30 p.m. • Sunriver Library | 56855 Venture Lane, Sunriver
Holiday Watercolor People Blobs*
In this all-levels class, artist Lee Kellogg will teach participants how to make people from blobs of watercolor paint and populate your artwork with figures. Registration required.
- Thursday, December 19 • 10:30 a.m. • Sisters Library | 110 North Cedar Street, Sisters
For more information about these programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats or auxiliary aides) should contact Liz Goodrich at lizg@deschuteslibrary.org or 541-312-1032.
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