Latino Wellness Fair Returns to Bend

Central Oregon's largest Latino-focused health fair returns September 19 with expanded free.

According to The Source - Bend, Oregon, Mosaic Community Health, Deschutes County Health Services, and Volunteers in Medicine Clinic of the Cascades are bringing back their annual Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ponderosa Park (225 SE 15th St.) in Bend. Now in its fourth year, the free community event has grown into what The Source describes as Central Oregon's largest Latino-focused health and wellness fair. The event is designed to improve access to healthcare and provide preventative health screenings and community resources for Latino and Spanish-speaking families across the region. Services, information, and activities will be offered primarily in Spanish, with interpretation services in multiple languages available. While the fair centers on the needs of the Latino community, all are welcome to attend.

The Source reports that attendees will have access to a wide range of free on-site services. Advantage Dental+ and Capitol Dental will provide oral health assessments, temporary fillings and restorations, and dental hygiene education. Adventure Medics will offer blood pressure and blood glucose screenings. Project Happy Face will conduct dermatology treatment, skin cancer screenings, and wart removal. Deschutes County Health Services will provide HIV/STI testing and treatment, WIC services, immunizations, and health education. Casey Eye Institute will conduct basic vision screenings for kids. Beyond clinical services, the fair offers free food, shaved ice, raffles, Zumba classes, children's activities, food box distribution, and opportunities to connect with local organizations and resources.

According to The Source, Shana Falb, Community Partnerships and Engagement Analyst at Deschutes County Health Services, said the event addresses health inequities present in the community by providing essential health services that many community members have difficulty accessing. Falb noted that many factors contribute to disparities, from access to transportation to affordable housing and food security, and that the goal is for community members to receive information they need, in the language they speak, to address factors that impact health. Jason Villanueva, Spanish Communications Specialist at Mosaic Community Health, told The Source that the hope is families leave with more than information — whether it's a health screening, a new resource, or a connection to care.

The push to bring wellness resources directly to underserved communities extends well beyond Central Oregon. According to WEEK | 25 News Now, Peoria's Hult Health Center and the New Millennium Institute hosted a Senior Living Resource & Wellbeing Expo 2026 that brought in around 20 vendors to provide wellness resources and education to seniors, sponsored by Carle Health. The Peoria event also featured line dancing, gospel music, wellness lectures, and singing performances. New Millennium Institute Founder and CEO James Bryson told 25 News Now that it's important to provide seniors with resources but also fun, noting that seeing attendees in their 70s and older getting up and dancing was, in his words, "really vitalizing to everyone."

Efforts to expand wellness access are also reaching schools and new clinical practices. AASA, The School Superintendents Association, highlighted a webinar recording on using the CDC's School Health Index as a strategic tool for superintendent decision-making, drawing on initiatives from the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health to help leaders identify needs and build plans aligned with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. Separately, according to Community Impact, Magnolia Mental Health and Wellness Celina plans to open for in-person visits this fall, treating conditions like ADHD, depression, and anxiety, with a specialization in treatment for women, children, and adolescents. Community Impact reports that the practice is currently available for telehealth visits and plans to open its in-person clinic on Frontier Parkway in October.

According to The Source, this year's event organizers received sponsorships to expand the number of on-site health services provided at the fair. Sponsors include Pacific Source Community Solutions, Oregon Health Authority, Bend Park and Recreation District, and the Central Oregon Health Council. Kat Mastrangelo, Executive Director of Volunteers In Medicine, told The Source that the organizers are excited to welcome everyone back to celebrate health and community, encouraging families to enjoy a fun day and take advantage of all the free medical and dental services available. As the fair enters its fourth year, its continued growth and expanded sponsor base signal sustained demand for accessible, culturally responsive healthcare in Central Oregon.