The holiday season is a great time to get away for a few days with friends and family to make brand new memories together. If you are looking for your next holiday destination, consider making your way to Sunriver. Our Oregon home will provide you with plenty of exciting activities including winter sports to enjoy. You will also find a selection of enjoyable holiday events that offer fun for everyone in the family. Take a look at the magic you can make with a trip to Sunriver this holiday season:
Grand Illumination
No matter where you visit, you will find that cities typically offer a holiday tree that stands tall among the area covered in countless Christmas lights. Each year, the Sunriver Resort hosts their Grand Illumination event, their Christmas tree light ceremony that is free for everyone in the area to attend. This yearly celebration brings out a ton of fun with local vendors taking stage along with family friendly activities. Make sure to track down Santa Claus for a picture. Let the little ones enjoy the train rides around the event.
Enjoy the live music with performances of your favorite holiday songs. Take a peek in the telescopes to see the stars up close shining overhead. Additional activities also include bounce houses, mini golf, raffles, and a visit to the North Pole. The tree lighting kicks off at 5:45 PM with Santa Claus leading the activity. This Christmas tree is huge and will bring a smile to your children’s faces. Following the tree lighting there will be a dazzling fireworks display shot off in the night sky. Simply put, there is something for everyone at the Grand Illumination. Don’t miss out on this event on November 23rd starting at noon.
Holiday Light Show
One of the best parts to spending the holidays in somewhere new is getting the chance to enjoy all of the holiday lights hung up in the area. You will find that Sunriver and all of the local areas feature millions of dazzling lights to look up at. Sunriver Resort offers their annual Holiday Light Show for free to everyone in the area. Stop by their Backyard Café & Bar from November 24th through January 1st to catch a glimpse of their incredible light show.
All of the Christmas lights are synced with holiday music making it a truly spectacular show like no other. The shows occur nightly at 5:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 7:30 PM so you can easily plan your schedule around making it to one of the shows. You will be able to order up your favorite adult beverage for the adults and let the kids grab a hot chocolate and treat. Don’t miss out on this magical experience with the Holiday Light Show.
Rockin’ Holiday Kickoff
For years the community of Sunriver has kicked off the holiday season in an exciting and rocking way. Of course, we mean the annual Rockin’ Holiday Kickoff that will return for its 7th consecutive year this season. This is an exciting event that will offer the whole family a way to join the community of Sunriver and see how we part for the holidays. The event will take place on Saturday November 30th starting at 3:00 PM. The Rockin’ Holiday Kickoff offers a whole lotta fun for the family. Santa Claus will be on hand for free photos with the kids.
His helper elves will also be on hand for complimentary carnival style games. Enjoy the free live music from various carolers and performers on hand to perform your favorite holiday songs. Hot cocoa and coffee will be on hand to help you stay warm in the Oregon cold. The event ends at 6:00 PM just after the official Village Christmas tree lighting that will be on at night for the remainder of the holiday season. Don’t miss out on the Rockin’ Holiday Kickoff this year in Sunriver!
Bend Holiday Parade
Sunriver is not the only community here in Central Oregon that has holiday fun. You will find communities such as Bend that will be just a short drive away. Bend features their annual Bend Christmas Parade that is always a joy to watch. The event has been around since the 1950s and is led by the grand marshal. There is always a Santa sighting along with plenty of additional family fun. Don’t miss out on this year’s Bend Christmas Parade taking place in early December.
Get Ready for Your Sunriver Stay
The holiday season is a great time to visit Sunriver. You will have access to the winter slopes and all of these holiday events. Our vacation rentals will keep you comfortable and nearby each of these special holiday activities during your stay.
It is time to cool off this summer season with one last trip to Oregon. Get ready for one last summer hoorah by making your way to Sunriver over Labor Day Weekend. This holiday is a busy travel season so making your plans early will put you one step ahead of the others. Take a look at all of the wonderful things waiting for you this Labor Day in Sunrise, Oregon:
Go Bike Riding
One of the most popular outdoor activities that you will find here in Sunriver is bike riding. Sunriver features over 40 miles of paved bicycle paths that are mostly flat and will take you past different city landmarks. This includes riding past The Village at Sunriver or the marina. Perhaps the most popular path to take is the Sun Lava Path where you can learn all about the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Visit a local bike shop to rent out a bike for the day!
Paddle Down the Deschutes River
Sunriver is appropriately named as it is found right alongside the Deschutes River. As you explore town you will get the itch to want to explore the water. Stop by the marina to find a variety of rental shops that can provide you with a kayak, canoe, or stand up paddle board for the day. You can paddle out to Benham Butte and explore miles of shoreline. If you prefer a more adventurous outing out on the river you can book a white water rafting adventure. You will find various difficulty levels making it easy to plan for something your family is comfortable with. Don’t miss out on the Deschutes River!
Peer at the Stars
Sunriver was designated was a dark sky city back in 2020 meaning it features the perfect night sky to go stargazing at. Sunriver is home to the Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory where you can peer through their dozen telescopes at the sky. Many visitors have reported to see distant stars and planets on a clear night. You can also stop by during the day to see sunspots and solar storms from a distance. This is a great attraction for those with a love for science and the stars!
More Fun in Sunriver
There is a ton of fun right here in Sunriver for your Labor Day Weekend. Book your favorite vacation rental with us and see for yourself!
If you are looking for an exciting New Year’s destination this year, look no further than beautiful Sunriver, Oregon. Our vacation town is a popular tourism spot anytime of the year. However, the New Year’s holiday is a great time to come see specialty events and enjoy the various winter activities. Here is how you can spend New Year’s in Sunriver this year:
Sunriver Resort New Year’s Eve Party
The local resorts throw end of the year celebrations, including the Sunriver Resort New Year’s Eve Party. This special event can even be enjoyed by those not staying at the resort; book one of our vacation rentals and enjoy this incredible dance party for yourself! This year’s event will include an evening of dancing and revelries. All party favors and even a champagne toast are included with your ticket entry of $65 per person. This party is adults only. The Sunriver Resort New Year’s Eve Party will take place from 8:00 PM to midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Hit the Slopes
One great way to really enjoy your New Year’s excursion to Sunriver is by checking out Mt. Bachelor for some of the best ski slopes in the Pacific Northwest. Mt. Bachelor is extremely popular for new skiers and experienced boarders alike. Check out the local rental shops that will have all the gear you need for a successful trip down the mountain.
Explore the Snow-Covered Wilderness
The surrounding area is typically covered in snow around the New Year’s holiday and just afterwards too. You can explore the terrain in an exciting way by booking a snowmobile tour. Or get out and explore the area yourself with a thrilling snowshoe adventure. Sunriver also has dog sled rides, where working huskies will escort you around the hills. Finally, helicopter rides let you take to the sky and see Sunriver from a whole new perspective!
Go Shopping at The Village
Make sure to relax on your New Year’s trip by shopping over at The Village. This is Sunriver’s hot spot for exciting shopping and delicious restaurants. If you come out a few days early for New Year’s, you may even be able to catch some of the last-minute Christmas events going on downtown.
More to Do During New Year’s in Sunriver
If all this sounds like an incredible time, make sure you book a trip to Sunriver for New Year’s. Our vacation rentals will keep you comfortable throughout your stay. Make sure to book today before all of our vacation rentals are unavailable for the New Year’s in Sunriver!
Check Out Our Sunriver Vacation Rentals
For those of us who have done a lot of traveling in our lives, we’ve come to learn one fact that rings true: It’s often the simplest moments that make the largest impact in our adventures. The taste of a Nutella and banana crepe enjoyed on the streets of Paris, the colorful explosion of colors in an Arizona sunset, and a moment spent in peace and quiet in a beautiful park in Sunriver. These are the moments that turn a perfectly wonderful vacation into an exquisitely perfect one. Here’s a list of the most beautiful Sunriver parks, so you can experience your own share of perfect moments during your unforgettable Oregon vacation!
Fort Rock Park, 57515 East Cascade Road
Family-friendly activities can be hard to find in many vacation areas, but here in Sunriver, we’ve got your back. Fort Rock Park offers covered pavilions perfect for picnics with the entire family, a playground parents will be tempted to try out for themselves, and many different areas where you can show your children where their own competitive genes have come from! Offering tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts as well as softball fields and a large grassy area perfect for playing a game of catch, your day at this park will be made even more special because of the people you bring with you!
Paulina Park, 57250 Overlook Road
Offering more fun for the entire family, Paulina Park is as famous for the lists of activities you can participate in during your day of play here as it is for the gorgeous views that are visible from just about anywhere in the park! Exert some energy on the rock-climbing structures, play a little bocce ball, or simply enjoy the views of the tree lined wilderness over sandwiches eaten at any of the picnic tables in the park. A covered pavilion can be rented with a $25 payment, in the case of poor weather.
La Pine State Park, 15800 State Recreation Road in La Pine
Located just a few miles south of our favorite hometown, La Pine State Park offers an adventure for everyone in your group, offering a beauty you just can’t find anywhere else! Hike or bike along gravel trails, fish or swim in the Deschutes River, and take some quiet time to observe the wildlife that make La Pine State Park their happy homes; the beauty of this special place will never be forgotten!
After a Long Day of Play at Beautiful Sunriver Parks
The creature comforts and luxury amenities offered by our Arrived Now Sunriver homes and cabins will be much appreciated. Reserve yours today and discover the difference an excellent vacation home can make in an already perfect vacation experience!
Check Out Our Sunriver Vacation Rentals