Spring is springing in Pendleton, with longer days, more events and (for those of us with the gardening habit) spring planting. Here are a few of the events we’re looking forward to in the month of March:
Running All Month
The Pendleton Library has a variety of weekly and daily programs for kids all month. Check their calendar for more extensive details.
Wednesdays at the Tananáwit Mission Longhouse 5-7pm ~ Every Wednesday is Culture Night at the Tananáwit Mission Longhouse on Confederated Way, and kudos to whoever does their outreach for laying out the details better (and prettier) than I ever could.
Midweek Movement ~ Wednesday afternoons from 1-1:30 ~ Pendleton Center for the Arts ~ Speaking of Wednesdays in March (and prettier than me) Valerie Connor is leading a low-intensity restorative movement suitable for anyone looking for a mid-day reset. Drop-in fee is $10, or $40 for the full series.
Weekdays, 8:30-9:30 AM ~ Walking for Wellness Open Gym ~Pendleton Rec Center ~ Get your steps in every weekday morning with good music and new friends in the gymnasium at the rec center. Free of charge.
Alternating Fridays (March 13 & 27) 6-8 PM – Teen Night at the Rec Center ~ Rec Center ~ Activities, Games & Free Pizza for those of the 12-18 year old demographic.
Filing Deadline(s) for Pendleton City Council (March 3 & 10) ~ Not an event as such, but have you or a loved one considered being running for office? Turn that dream into reality by running for the Pendleton City Council – Filing deadline is March 3 at 5PM for incumbents, and March 10 at 5PM for new candidates. Contact City Recorder/Elections Officer [email protected] with questions. What benefits come with being on the Pendleton City Council? In addition to voting on issues shaping our city’s future, you also also get to ride in this sweet “council cart” during the annual Westward Ho parade (as seen in this 2025 photo).
March Pendleton Happenings: Single Serving Events
Sunday, March 1 ~ ‘Two Cultures – One Community’ Powwow ~ Pendleton Convention Center ~ If I can get this calendar posted before nightfall (and good chance of that, thanks to a 16 drip coffee from Rez Roasters at today’s still-in-progress Powwow) you have another day to attend the 2026 ‘Two Cultures – One Community’ Powwow — and you should. Dancing, drumming, and as glorious a display of colorful regalia in a single place as you’ll find anywhere on the continent. (Head MC Ruben Little Head’s introductions & event commentary are pretty cool too). Click here for full schedule.
Tuesday, March 3, 1:50AM – 4:03AM ~ Total Lunar Eclipse ~ The Sky ~ Get up early or stay up late March 3rd to witness a lunar eclipse. Schedule noted above is from this article NASA.Gov, though subtle visuals will appear before and after. Look to the Western Horizon, and avoid the glare from Motel Six. Worth getting up early or staying up late, weather permitting.
Thursday, March 5, 5:30 PM ~ Screening of “The Librarians” ~ BMCC Science and Tech Building (Room 200) ~ The Librarians” follows a courageous network of besieged librarians as they unite to examine how book restriction policies are shaping library collections. Oscar nominee Kim A. Snyder directed the “The Librarians” and Sarah Jessica Parker is the film’s executive producer. The film travels from Texas to Florida, revealing how local libraries have become unexpected battlegrounds in a national struggle over parental control, intellectual freedom and the foundations of democracy. Click here for the full article @ the East Oregonian.
Saturday, March 7, 1-3pm ~ SPIN IN ~ Pendleton Center for the Arts ~ Join the fiber fun gang on the first Saturday of each month at the Pendleton Center for the Arts. Spinners, knitters, crocheters, and all lovers of creative handwork are invited to gather, share ideas, and enjoy good company. Curious about fiber arts? Stop in and learn more—they’re always happy to offer demonstrations, answer questions, and lend a hand. Whether you’re a seasoned maker or just getting started, bring your latest project or that “darned” knitting problem and stitch along with fellow crafty folk.
Saturday, March 7, 11AM ~ Read Across America Story Time ~ Pendleton Library ~ Celebrate Read Across America Week with ALTRUSA and the library! This year we will be highlighting the Here Comes Cat series written by Deborah Underwood.Come prepared to laugh along before grabbing a free book and snack for each child! Stick around for The Pendleton Gaming League, happening the same day from 2-4 PM in the Teen Gaming Center – the event is for grades 6 and up, and all participants need to register in advance online or complete a paper registration at the library prior to the event.
Saturday, March 7, 1pm-3pm ~ 40 Taps Customer Appreciation Day ~ 40 Taps ~ Popular Pendleton watering hole 40 Taps will be having a customer appreciation day to thank staff and customers alike. Happy hour pricing all day, burgers and hot dogs from 1-6pm, board games and DIY karaoke (if that’s your thing).
Sunday, March 8, 10am-2pm ~ A Gathering for Creatives hosted by the Pendleton Artisan Network ~ The Rainbow Cafe (Meeting Room) ~ Come hang out with fellow artists and be part of Pendleton’s vibrant art scene in the meeting room of the historic Rainbow Cafe. There’ll be a meet & mingle, free coffee and breakfast items & other activities. Visit PAN’s facebook page for more info.
Sunday, March 8, 2:30 PM ~ Oregon East Symphony Spring Concert 2026 ~ Vert Auditorium ~ Join the Oregon East Symphony for its Spring Concert, featuring guest trombonist John Neurohr. The program opens with Mother Goose Suite by Maurice Ravel, a colorful, storybook-inspired work full of delicate textures and charm. Also featured is Symphony No. 104 in D Major by Joseph Haydn, his final symphony and a cornerstone of the classical repertoire, brimming with wit and vitality. Neurohr takes center stage in Trombone Concerto by Nino Rota, known for its lyrical warmth and cinematic flair. The concert concludes with Rock That Trombone by Chiel Meijering, a dynamic, jazz-infused piece featuring a trombone ensemble of Neurohr’s former students from Central Washington University. Reserved balcony and floor level tickets are available at www.OregonEastSymphony.org. Find ‘em on Facebook.
Wednesday, March 11, 4:30 PM ~ Knitting at the Library ~ Pendleton Library ~ Bring your current knitting project or start a new one at the Pendleton Library’s monthly knitting event.
Friday, March 13, 6pm ~ Prodigal Son ~ Screening of The Big Lebowski!
Local Lebowski fans are putting together a celebration of Dudemas on Friday the 13th (which is technically speaking the eighth day of Dude-mas). The party will be held in the back room of Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub (230 SE Court Ave in Pendleton).
There’ll be a screening of The Big Lebowski around six, appetizers, menu items, and a full selection of beverages – including, of course, White Russians.
What’s the connection between Pendleton and Lebowski? Click here to find out!
Saturday, March 14th, 12-2pm ~ Plant Swap ~ Pendleton Library ~ Got too many of one plant and pining for something new? Bring your cuttings, sprouts & extra plants to the Pendleton library and swap ‘em. Volunteers from the Umatilla Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions and offer general encouragement on matters horticultural. They can also sign you up for a plot in the community garden.
Saturday, March 14th, 4pm ~ Fillipo Gorini ~ Pendleton Center for the Arts ~ World-class pianist Filippo Gorini will perform a recital at the Pendleton Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 14th at 4:00 PM. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited to 100 guests, so reservations are recommended. Doors open at 3:30.
Sunday, March 15, 9:30 AM ~ Real West Gravel ~ Let R’ Ride (Starts @ Pendleton Convention Center / Blue Mountain Equine Center) ~ This hardcore bike ride covers 47-67 miles (depending on the route you chose) of rugged landscape curves and climbs, with 70% of the route over unpaved gravel roads. There’ll be food and catering afterwards. You can save a few bucks by registering online <https://www.mudslingerevents.com/real-west-gravel>here, or pay $160 on the day. Maximum capacity is 500, so show up early. Cheering the riders on is free.
Tuesday, March 17th, 12:30-5:30 ~ Blood Drive ~ Veterans of Foreign Wars (1221 SE Court Place) ~ The Pendleton Lions Club is hosting a Blood Drive on Tuesday March 17th. Visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: LC/12942 to schedule an appointment or contact Sherri Sievert at [email protected]. Find The Lions on Facebook.
Tuesday, March 17, All Day (and then some) ~ St. Patrick’s Day Celebration ~ Rainbow Cafe ~ Pendleton’s original and best St. Patrick’s day party, featuring live music, the worlds shortest parade , and all the Irish food and drinks you can handle. Doors open at 6am, the parade starts at 7am, and the party keeps going until 2AM. If you’re a one-day-a-year drinker, make this your day.
Saturday, March 21, 9AM ~ Run into Spring ~ Pendleton Adventure Trails ~ Chase away the winter blues with Run Into Spring on Saturday, March 21 at the Pendleton Adventure Trails. This running event will include family, mid-range (3-4) miler, and long (8-10)-miler routes. Routes not yet posted, but will be soon on PAT’s FB page. The event is free.
Thursday March 26 – 9-10PM ~ The Lowtimers ~ Great Pacific ~ The only show on Great Pacific’s March calendar looks to be a good one. As per a write-up in Glide Magazine, “The Lowtimers are a 5-piece Americana band led by songwriters Austin Smith and Mark Tegio. Formed through years of touring up and down the West Coast, the band blends soulful Americana with a contemporary twist. With their debut album Cracks, The Lowtimers offer fresh perspectives on timeless stories of love, loss, and redemption. The band includes Smith (guitar, vocals, harmonica), Tegio (guitar, vocals), Kelso (drums), Dreher (bass, harmonies), and Vermeesch (pedal steel).” Click here for more info.
Saturday March 28, 12-5 – DJ Day at Unity Records ~ Unity Records ~ What better way to spend the last Sunday of the month than with a sweet hang at Unity Records, where DJ Josh & potential guest DJ’s will be spinning wax obscure and otherwise all afternoon? (I’d go myself, but I’ll be heading outta town to tie one on.)
