The Okanagan’s fall bounty will fill up the downtown streets this weekend to celebrate the Harvest Festival.

“About 80 per cent of the vendors are farmers with local produce,” said Cindy Nelson, manager of the Penticton Farmers’ Market. “This will be a little different than our regular market as we will have great live entertainment, basket raffles, food samples and hot apple cider.”

The market will take place this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the 100 block of Main Street. Entertainment includes Ari Neufeld and Chasing Red Lights who will be joined by vendor booths and face-painters to keep the whole family busy.

Starting in the 200 block of Main Street, the Downtown Penticton Association will also be hosting a Harvest Festival, the DPA’s final community market for the season, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Some of the features of the market include baking, fine jewelry, dried fresh fruit and veggies, organic honey, fine art, fresh salmon, leather work, organic cosmetics and body care products.

“It’s going to be absolutely amazing and really focused on the family,” said Barb Haynes, executive director of the Downtown Penticton Association. “We are going to have a kids zone in Nanaimo Square with a full lineup of entertainers, bouncy castles, the climbing wall and other fun games.”

Entertainment in Nanaimo Square is hosted by Matt Dufus with dance groups and a magician performing. In the 300 block there will be hay rides leaving from the Royal Bank station, live country music on stage and Penticton’s own Oktoberfest with a beer garden at Element Nightclub from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A scarecrow-making contest and pumpkin carving contest will also take place downtown. A toonie donation per contest will get you a pumpkin and supplies to make your own scarecrow to take home. Kids entering the pumpkin carving contest must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own carving supplies. Haynes suggested to get to the Harvest Festival early to sign up for the contests and the chance to win prizes such as tickets to the Penticton Vees game.

Prizes and ribbons will also be handed out in the Best of Penticton Challenge. Applications can be picked up at the DPA office as they are looking for the best dressed pet, fall floral arrangement, preserves, quilt, fruit jam, needle-arts, salsa, pumpkin pie, B.C. apple pie, canned fruit and pickles, Winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m. from the main stage.

“We are building on the success from last year and adding to it. There will be a lot of great prizes people can win including the coveted first-place ribbon,” said Haynes. “The whole event will be lots and lots of fun and a good way to celebrate the last market for us (DPA) with a whole family fun day.”

New this year will be a fiber, fabric and yarn exchange at the Craft Supply Swap meet. This is the place to sell remnants and left over supplies from your last project. Space can be booked for $10 by calling in advance to 250-496-0025. This will take place in the 300 block of Main Street — tents are provided but sellers must bring their own table. Table space will be free to all non-profit, community groups and organizations to display, fundraiser or sell tickets.

For more information contact the Penticton Farmers’ Market at 250-770-3276 or e-mail pentictonfarmersmarket@gmail.com. For more information on the Downtown Penticton Association market or contests contact 250-493-8540, e-mail info@downtownpenticton.org or stop by their offices at #209 212 Main St.