One of the best perks of summer in Central Oregon is the summer Bend concerts. Whether you’re floating the Deschutes River, shopping in the Old Mill District, or living nearby, there’s a chance you’ve heard some of the fun happening at Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
While the headlining band might draw you to the show, you may wonder, “What are the food and drink options at the Bend concerts?” Here, we have your guide to eating, drinking, and being merry at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater for all the Bend concerts of 2024!
Visiting Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Before heading to a Bend concert, it’s crucial to understand how the venue works. First, we suggest reading the guidelines for attending a Live Nation show. You’ll want to note what’s allowed at the venue (and what’s not) and what to expect.
Because the venue is committed to sustainability, the following food and drink guidelines are followed as a part of their Take Note Initiative:
- All single-use dishes, utensils, and cups are 100 percent compostable
- Single-use plastic is banned, including water bottles
- Ticket holders can bring in their own empty reusable water bottles
- Free water filtration stations are set up throughout the venue
- The “Green Team” is on staff to efficiently sort recycling, waste, and compost bins
Where to eat at the Bend concerts
Let’s be honest—one of the best perks of living in or visiting Central Oregon is the amazing food scene. So, you shouldn’t have to compromise when it comes to attending a concert! Luckily, many local food carts are available at Hayden Homes Amphitheater all summer.
El Sancho
Local favorite El Sancho joins Hayden Homes Amphitheater in 2024 to feed concertgoers. El Sancho is known for their simple yet satiating tacos made at their colorful taco carts (and taco shops). Tacos are made to order and packed inside freshly fried tortillas, giving each bite a subtle crunch.
All tacos come topped with onions, cilantro, and cotija cheese with popular fillings like:
- Mushroom: One of their most popular taco choices, each taco features a wild blend of mushrooms and specialty chili paste.
- Oaxaca: While typically not available at the El Sancho carts, you can grab these Mexican melting cheese tacos stuffed with roasted green chiles at the Bend concerts.
- Chipotle Chicken: Served alongside salsa roja, these tacos are stuffed with smoked chicken thighs dressed in chipotle garlic sauce.
- Beef Barbacoa: Keeping it simple and classic with salsa roja and shredded brisket.
Next, grab a plate of rice and beans or a side of chips and salsa, or simply enjoy these tacos a la carte. In fact, El Sancho even sources some of their ingredients from nearby Well Rooted Farms.
ZydeGo
Zydeco Kitchen returns with its fast-casual food truck, ZydeGo. Enjoy your favorite Cajun delights from their downtown restaurant right here at Hayden Homes Amphitheater!
- BBQ Shrimp & Southern Grit Cake: Zydeco’s shrimp and grits plate is a staple in the restaurant; this plate undoubtedly sells out quickly, so make this truck one of your first stops!
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken Thighs: Served over a biscuit with Louisiana cane syrup butter, this Southern classic can be modified to be gluten-free.
- Andouille Sausage & Chicken Jambalaya: It doesn’t get more Cajun than this! Jambalaya comes with a side of cornbread and basmati rice for the ultimate Cajun comfort dish.
Folks can add sides like creamy coleslaw, Southern grit cakes, and buttermilk biscuits to orders. Afterward, grab a non-alcoholic slushy for a cool and refreshing treat with seasonal flavors like blueberry lemonade.
The Bob
One of Bend’s longest-standing food stands joins the lineup at Bend concerts in 2024. The Bob is known for its Mediterranean street food served as a wrap (Gyro), salad, or bowl. Simply choose your protein from choices like lamb, chicken, and falafel, and your preferred vehicle on which to eat.
- The Yee-Ro: It’s a Gyro, but for people who can’t pronounce “yee-row.”
- Buddha “Bob” Bowl: Think Gyro served over za’atar rice and organic spring mix with fried chickpeas.
- Bob Salad: Almost everything from the Bob bowl, except the rice and chickpeas.
- Hummus Plate: Roasted red pepper hummus alongside crispy pita and crudités for dipping.
- Fries: French fries tossed in Za’atar seasoning.
Get in line early for this one, as The Bob draws an early crowd seeking wraps and bowls.
Dump City Dumplings
Dump City Dumplings is a popular spot for locals and returning visitors, serving up food for everyone from Bend concertgoers to Mt. Bachelor snow enthusiasts. Here, all dumplings are available a la carte from the following assortments:
- Chinese-Style Pork: slow-braised pork shoulder with carrots, cabbage, garlic, ginger, green onions, and cilantro, all tossed in soy, sesame, and rice vinegar
- Pad Thai (Vegan): marinated tofu, roasted peanuts, and sauteed onions mixed with vermicelli noodles in a peanut chili soy sauce
- Four Cheese Pizza: melted parmesan, Tillamook cheddar, queso fresco, and provolone cheese with a hint of their house-made marinara
Don’t skip out on their awesome house-made sauces! Choose from cilantro sweet chili garlic, teriyaki, Sriracha sauce, Frank’s Red Hot, and coconut lime peanut. Even better, their ingredients are organically-sourced, using all local meats and veggies.
See more from Dump City Dumplings
Island Noodles
Undoubtedly, Island Noodles is one of the star food carts for events in Bend and Central Oregon. You can typically find them at just about any summer event in town, but now you can find them all summer at the Bend concerts for 2024.
Watch as their team cooks wok-fired soba noodles cart-side; these are some of the most popular noodles in Central Oregon! These satisfying noodles come one of two ways, packed in an oyster pail for convenient and easy noodle slurping.
- Noodles: Classic soba noodles come with a variety of wok-fired veggies. This option is naturally vegan and cooked in a separate wok using separate utensils.
- Teriyaki Chicken: Take the classic soba noodles and add wok-fired teriyaki chicken and, voila, you’ve got the teriyaki chicken noodles!
- Spice it Up: Add a little kick to your noods with sides of Sriracha and sauces to doctor your dish to your liking.
Ben & Jerry’s
You know you’re likely to have a hankering for something sweet after grubbing on all this rich and savory food. That’s where Ben & Jerry’s comes in. The ice cream shop is locally owned and has an ice cream shop inside the Old Mill District. As Ben & Jerry’s returns in 2024, it’s ready to serve all the pun-inspired scoops one could dream of.
Grab a scoop, pint, or waffle cone serving of a few B&J’s classics, including Cherry Garcia and Phish Food. Enjoy a classic Sweet Cream & Cookies, or opt for the non-dairy option, Caramel Cookie Graham.
Aside from a classic scoop, find a few more sweet treats at their tent:
- Brownies
- Cookies
- Cookie Dough Chunks
What to drink at Bend concerts
Now that you know exactly where to go and what to eat, you’ll want to stake out your drink plans. With more drink options than ever before, you’ll be sipping your favorite cocktail, mocktail, beer, or wine from these drink tents.
Mocktails
Gone are the days of settling for soda and water as the only non-alcoholic options. With an entire drink menu dedicated to mocktails, you can be sipping on tropical libations sans alcohol. While these drinks can be made with liquor, they are all available completely alcohol-free.
- Pain Killer Punch
- Mango Agua Fresca
- Electrolyte Refresher
At the Concessions tent, you can grab various non-alcoholic beers, like Fremont IPA, and canned mocktails, like the Mai Tai from local Altitude Beverages.
Premium cocktails
Just about everywhere you look, you’ll find a cocktail tent. Whether it’s spiking the aforementioned mocktails or opting for a seasonal margarita, you’re likely to find it at any of the cocktail tents.
- All drinks come served as “doubles”
- Enjoy headliner-themed cocktails
- Classic and unique mixed drinks
Choose your spirits from premium to library, then choose your mixer—like refreshing lemonade.
Wine by the Bottle
Grab your group and head to the wine tent for a variety of wine pours by the glass or bottle. Of course, glass bottles are not permitted, so you’ll get a Bend Concerts wine growler filled with your favorite wine.
From Chandon Brut Rosé to Le Grande Dame Veuve Clicquot, Château St. Michele to 2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, there’s a pour for any palate or price point. You’ll find plenty of Oregon wines, like Stoller and Sokol Blosser, in addition to California wines like Stag’s Leap and DAOU.
Beer
Of course, you can find many of your favorite Central Oregon beers—like Deschutes Brewery and 10 Barrel Brewing Co.— at the Bend concerts. Additionally, you have the choice of domestic and premium brews.
Grab and Go Snacks & Drinks
If what you want is a quick bite and no-frills drinks, head to the Grab & Groove. Here, you can grab easy stadium food like ballpark nachos, soft pretzels, chicken tenders, and cheeseburgers. Nearby Snack Shack has local canned cocktails, water, sodas, and ready-to-enjoy bevvys.
Hotels Near Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Where better to stay after a concert than steps away from the Hayden Homes Amphitheater? Yes, the Old Mill District is home to various hotel suites and extended-stay hotels! This means enjoying happy hour at one of the Old Mill District’s restaurants before a concert and walking back to your hotel without worrying about parking.
- Hilton Garden Inn
- Hampton Inn
- Spring Hill Suites
- My Place Hotel
- Residence Inn by Marriott
See all hotels in the Old Mill District
Visiting Bend, Oregon
If you’re visiting Bend, Oregon, you might be wondering where and how to start planning. Check out some of these local resources to make your trip to Central Oregon and Hayden Homes Amphitheater a memorable one!
Whether you’re here for the weekend or call Central Oregon ‘home,’ don’t miss an opportunity to spend a summer night enjoying good food and great company at Hayden Homes Amphitheater!
See the full line-up of concerts in Bend, Oregon in 2024 at Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
Thank you to Old Mill District for supporting Eat Drink Bend!
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