Your Guide to an Unforgettable Weekend in Bend, July 24–26

Bend has a big weekend lined up, and only one of the headliners plays guitar.

Jordan Davis opens Friday night at Hayden Homes Amphitheater, and the Goo Goo Dolls close things out Sunday with Neon Trees. In between, hot air balloons lift off at sunrise each morning as part of Balloons Over Bend. If you're coming into town for a show, you've picked a weekend with a lot more going on than the concert itself. Here's how to make the most of it.

Friday: Jordan Davis at Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Jordan Davis opens the weekend with a Friday night set at Hayden Homes Amphitheater, the outdoor venue tucked along the Deschutes River in the heart of Bend. Doors typically open a couple hours before showtime, which is enough time to grab dinner nearby before heading over. The venue's riverside setting means the show comes with a backdrop of pine trees and high desert sky, not just stage lights.

If you're staying at Waypoint, a quick bike ride or short drive gets you to the venue.

Sunday: Goo Goo Dolls and Neon Trees

The weekend closes out big on Sunday, when the Goo Goo Dolls and Neon Trees share the bill for a lineup that spans two decades of arena-sized singalongs. It's the kind of show where the whole amphitheater lawn ends up singing along, so if you want a seat, plan to arrive with time to settle in before the opener starts. Check the full concert lineup if you want to see what else is playing while you're in town.

All Weekend: Balloons Over Bend

While the concerts are happening in the evenings, mornings belong to Balloons Over Bend. Hot air balloons launch at sunrise each day, July 24 through 26, at Jewell Elementary. It's free to watch and one of the more memorable ways to start a day in Bend. Bring coffee and arrive early to watch the sky fill with color while the town wakes up. Friday evening also features the Night Glow celebration, with tethered balloons lit up after dark alongside music and food carts.

Between sunrise balloon launches and evening concerts, this weekend has an unusual amount of built-in reasons to actually be outside in Bend rather than stuck indoors between events.

Filling the Gaps: What Else to Do This Weekend

You've got daylight hours between the balloons and the shows. Here's where to spend them:

• Float the Deschutes River. Rent a tube or paddleboard and drift the river through town. It's the single most Bend thing you can do on a summer afternoon.
• Old Mill District. Shopping and riverside dining sit right near the amphitheater, easy to combine with either concert.
• Bend Ale Trail. With more breweries per capita than almost anywhere in the country, an afternoon brewery stop or two is an easy way to fill a gap between the balloons and the show.
• Downtown Bend. Local shops and patios line a walkable core, good for wandering if you'd rather 

Want more ways to spend a Bend summer? Check out our full guide to summer in Bend.

Make Waypoint Your Basecamp

You don't have to pick between the balloons and the shows this weekend. Bend has room for both, and Waypoint puts you close enough that a quick bike ride or short drive gets you to any of it. Check our rooms or browse our Stay + Play Packages, then book your stay for July 24–26 and let the weekend do the rest.