By KRISTI MAYFIELD
Music, arts and food came together at the Autumn Gathering this past weekend in Oakdale. Hosted at Kerr Park on the east end of Oakdale, the day was designed to provide some entertainment for all ages.
From the multiple bounce houses in the Kids' Zone to the musical stylings of the Wet Bandidos, this inaugural Oakdale autumn festival had something for every member of the family. Local artists such as Kelly Meginness from Only Originals by Kelly noted that she and her husband like to attend many of these types of festivals because they are family friendly and they’re fun. Meginness had a booth in which she sold some oil on canvas paintings as well as some laser etched creations.
There were a variety of snacks and sweets for sale, along with food trucks and coffee stands lining Kerr Park so while visitors strolled from booth to booth learning about the artisans’ wares, they could also pop by and pick up some sweet treats from vendors like Sugar Smooches, a bakery that specializes in fun flavor combinations and specialized treats from cupcakes to cake pops.
The weather – with lingering near triple-digit heat still impacting the region over the weekend – likely kept the crowd numbers down, as the high peaked at 98 degrees on Saturday. It was also a first-time event for the organizers, who said they just wanted to provide a fun, family-friendly gathering.
Kids enjoyed the bounce houses, some attendees were clad in Star Wars gear, and music from the different performers filled the air throughout the event.
