Thousands Enjoy 2012 ‘Bite of Bend’

Do you enjoy good food from Central Oregon? Then you might have been one of the thousands of people taking part in the 2012 Bite of Bend over the weekend.

The annual food festival had all sorts of deliciousness.

It included local food booths that offer the community a chance to savor their creations.

The Bite of Bend also had a top chef competition, pitting Bend’s best chefs against each other.

The event organizer said this year’s Bite of Bend really emphasized the locally grown aspect.

“Tons of local farmers,” said Molly King. “We got local chocolates, we got local beer, we got local produce — pretty much everything is local, including the chefs that are competing.”

Also a staple of the event is the Bend Beer Run, a 5K loop through Drake Park.

But this isn’t your normal run: The 550 competitors, many in costumes, were treated to drinking beer along the route. That’s 200 more competitors than last year.

Organizers were happy with the turnout this weekend, especially considering Saturday’s rainy weather.