Throughout the streets of downtown Bend, the Fall Festival began, drawing in locals and tourists alike from Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct.1 for live music, food, art, local businesses and more. This event has something for everyone, from the Kids Harvest Run to a Weiner Dog Race, it is a great way to celebrate the upcoming season. 

The celebration commenced on Friday with live music, featuring artists such as Bodhi Mojo and Sonic Benders. The festival hosted The Bob, Dump City Dumpling, Rico’s Tacos, and many more of Bend’s favorite food trucks and vendors.

Despite the rain-soaked streets, the fun continued on Saturday when the Harvest Market opened. The market teemed with more than 80 fine artists, ranging from photographers to sculptors. Local businesses such as Penelope’s Soaps and Such, Mythical Chocolate, Derive Jewelry and others were lined up on downtown streets for browsing.

Local artist, Calista Graaff, showcased her art at the festival for the first time. “The festival was a pleasant event to participate in. The community was very supportive and I enjoyed getting to know many people who appreciated my art,” said the Bendite.

The festival is also a great event for children ages three to ten who can take part in the Kids Harvest Run at Troy Field on Saturday and receive a pumpkin at the finish line to paint and decorate at The Bend Family Play Zone.

More artists performed throughout the weekend, and as the event drew to a close on Sunday, festival-goers gathered to watch the Weiner Dog Race and Running of the Bulldogs, sponsored by the Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon and also located at Troy Field.

Overall, the Fall Festival is a popular event among the Bend Community and a fun way to kick off the new season.