Somehow, the fact that the Bend Fall Festival is this weekend (September 18th and 19th) completely snuck up on me—perhaps starting with the fact that it’s not actually taking place during the actual Fall season (which starts the 23rd). This is the autumn version of the other downtown Festivals, which will see Minnesota, Oregon, and Wall Street closed off to traffic to offer live music (on two stages), vendors and artists, and the food court and beer/wine garden.

Instead of Summerfest’s Jazz and Wine pavilion on Minnesota, though, the Fall Festival features the “Family Harvest Area,” which offers “pony rides, hay maze, hayrides,  a playhouse neighborhood, face painting, apple bobbing, pumpkin painting and more.” The website also mentions a pumpkin pie baking contest, and a pumpkin painting contest (for kids).

Times:

• Sat, September 18th from 11am – 10pm; Family Harvest Area closes at 5pm
• Sun, September 19th  from 11am – 6pm; Family Harvest Area closes at 4pm

Admission is free (naturally), as are many of the children’s activities, I believe, and the music. Everything else will cost you.