C. Oregon holiday bazaar season in full swing

You know it’s holiday time when you start seeing more and more holiday bazaars.
And this weekend is filled with them across Central Oregon.

The Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center was ready for Christmas as hundreds attended the annual Holiday Food and Gift Festival, which is now its 15th year.

The three-day festival is filled with arts, crafts, jewelry, ceramics, home decorations and a big wine selection.

Close to 120 vendors from 15 states fill the Middle Sister Conference Hall.

“This is one of our favorite shows,” said owner Stephanie Floyd. “The size of it is great. The quality of products is top-notch.”

If you are looking for unique gifts or something to do or wanting to support local businesses, organizers say their festival is the place to be.

You also can get great decorating and food ideas.

The festival runs until Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Another holiday bazaar people in our area look forward to every year is the annual holiday bazaar at the Bend Senior Center.

Now in its ninth year, the event has grown from 25 to 80 vendors.

The public could enjoy 11,000 square feet of holiday shopping with arts and crafts. They could choose from many items including baked goods, soaps, toy trains, tree ornaments to handmade scarves that filled the facility.

Brenda Chilcott, the senior center’s program coordinator, says it’s become a seasonal tradition for many Bend families.

“I just like to see everybody happy,” said Chilcott. “All the wonderful handcrafted items, it’s really fun to see.”

The Bend Park and Recreation’s therapeutic recreation program members were volunteering their time with packaging a soup mix as part of a fundraiser for the senior center.

A one pound mix of Calico Bean Soup sold for $5 per package, with all the proceeds benefiting the center.

Free samples of the very popular soup were handed out as well.

Check the variety of holiday events – or add your organization’s — at our online Events Calendar at http://events.ktvz.com.