Bend does Halloween a little differently. Along with pumpkins, costumes, and trick-or-treating, the city has built a collection of wonderfully weird Halloween traditions that make October an especially fun time to visit Central Oregon.
Start with the Witches Paddle, one of Bend's most iconic Halloween traditions. Each year, hundreds of witch costumed paddle boarders and kayakers fill the Deschutes River as part of the Halloween festivities at the Old Mill District. The 2026 celebration also includes performances, photo opportunities, trick-or-treating, and the Humane Society of Central Oregon's Pet Costume Contest (more on this in a moment…).
If you're exploring things to do in Bend during October, the Old Mill District, downtown, has its own Halloween treats. The Downtown Bend Trick-or-Treat Trail takes place October 31 from 3–6 p.m., with participating businesses handing out candy and welcoming costumed visitors.
Bend's dog-friendly culture gets its own Halloween spotlight, too. Riverhouse Lodge hosts its Howl-O-Ween Costume Party for Dogs on October 31, inviting pups and their humans to party-it-up before heading to the Humane Society of Central Oregon’s annual Howl-o-ween parade & costume contest, which brings hundreds of dogs and owners from across Bend and Central Oregon to parade together with Halloween pomp & circumstance.
For another seasonal experience, head to a local pumpkin patch, explore Bend's historic downtown, or simply take a walk along the Deschutes River as the fall colors arrive.
With Halloween events taking place throughout the city, October is a great time to plan a Bend getaway. Riverhouse Lodge puts you along the Deschutes River and close to many of Bend's fall attractions, making it an easy home base for a wonderfully weird Halloween weekend.