BEND, OR-- Bend Summer Festival returns this weekend to Downtown Bend. Aaron Swtizer, with Lay it Out Events, says they’re not immune to the region’s hiring challenges, "With events, there’s a lot of temporary staff and traditionally we’re used to seeing droves of young people who want to be here for the summer and work at events, and events are pretty fun to work at. But, that’s just not been the case this year. So, core staff gets spread a little thin producing these."

Despite a staffing shortage, Switzer tells KBND News the event will be pretty close to normal, "The planning keeps getting better and better, the further away we get from COVID. Although, Summer Festival is Saturday and Sunday, rather than its more traditional Friday, Saturday and Sunday because, when we’re planning this six months out, we were in the middle of winter and we just didn’t know what to expect." He adds, "The focus for Summer Festival is more on art this year; So, 82 art booths from around the region; We’re really excited to see that come back. In COVID, I think the artists and the people who travel to festivals in Bend, they were hit the hardest. So, people are really excited and eager to get back out and be a part of these things. That’s what people will see when they get down here, that enthusiasm."

There’s also a main stage for musical acts, a “lifestyles marketplace” and Family Play Zone. "These events are coming back and they’re strong. With everything that’s going on in the community, in terms of entertainment options, these are still doing really well and they’re really an integral part of what makes Bend Bend," says Switzer.

Summer Fest is 11 to 10 on Saturday, and 11 to 5 on Sunday.