Downtown Bend just finished up with their Oktoberfest and now it’s time for the Bend Fall Festival already—this weekend, October 4th and 5th.

The routine is pretty much the same as for the other seasonal festivals: several blocks of Downtown Bend will be blocked to traffic and opened to artisans selling their wares, several stages with live music, beer and wine gardens, the food court, and lots of milling people. The Fall Festival has a few autumn-themed activities going on that differentiate it a bit:

• Pumpkin pie judging
• Pumpkin painting contest
• Pumpkin carving contest
• Pony and hay rides for the kids

They also had a straw bale maze built one year we went, which was fun for the kids.

I believe the Festival opens at 11 both days.