Making connections, having fun, sharing art: Big crowds head downtown for weekend’s Bend Fall Festival

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) --  Fall has come to life in downtown Bend for the Bend Fall Festival this weekend. Big crowds enjoyed Day 2 of the three-day event on Saturday, turning out to support local artists, enjoy live music and a wide variety of food and activities. 

"I'm so appreciative of everyone that comes out to support the local arts, and I couldn't be here without everyone coming out and supporting us," Roxy Schultz, owner of Wild by Design, said Saturday. "So it's great to see everybody!"

Ashley B Artisticworks owner Ashley Bergeron said, "I'm looking forward to seeing everybody and getting to know people and sharing my art with the community."

While walking through downtown, people browsed the work of more than 80 artists - enjoying the paintings,  pottery and earrings, among other artistic creations. 

Ashley and Roxy both take pride in their handmade pieces. 

Bergeron said, "It's all wheel-thrown local porcelain, and then all the designs are hand-carved. So I'm laying down wax and then carving into the pieces and laying with different oxide and under glazes."

Schultz said, "I make botanical jewelry - all real flowers, ferns and fruit, and then faux insects that shimmer in the sunlight."

If you've missed the fall festival, there is still Sunday's events, including the Great Bark Bash dog races.