October 11, 2025
Subscribe to the newsletter (it's free!)
Visit the new "Our Events" page
ashland.news
Support Ashland.news
Sponsor Ashland.news

Picture This: 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival

Entries mark the beginning of the dog parade downtown during the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival in October 2024. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
October 5, 2024

Sights, sounds, smells make for a seasonal feast for the senses

Photos by Andy Atkinson, Rogue Valley Times

The 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival was held Saturday downtown under perfectly sunny autumn skies.

Thousands turned out for the event, which kicked off with the Talent Harvest Festival 5K, 10K and Fun runs, and included a morning pet parade. Live music was played at the Wagner Plaza, Old Town Park and the Library Commons Park.

Locals and visitors makes their way through the downtown streets during the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival on Saturday. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson

Families with young ones encountered a trove of activities, entertainers and performances at the KidZone in Library Commons Park.

More than 80 local art, craft and growers booths were on display across the entire downtown, and festival-goers purchased cuisine and drinks from a handful of food trucks stationed near the Talent Skate Park.

Andy Atkinson has been capturing action-packed shots across the Rogue Valley for 25 years. Reach him at [email protected]. This photo story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.

The dog parade kept people and pooches moving Saturday morning during the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival downtown. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Longtime Rogue Valley musician Jeff Kloetzel performs streetside during the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival on Saturday. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Sharon Wieczorek pours a sample from locally grown elderberries from VitalBerry Farm during the Talent Harvest Festival downtown Saturday. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Locals check out flowers made by BBG Creations during the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival downtown Saturday. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Tori Johnson takes a selfie with friends Savanna Varela and Bradley Rutherford during the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival Saturday in downtown Talent. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
A puppy looks cool during the dog parade at the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival downtown Saturday. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Patrick Homa peels back a fresh ear of corn from Red Buttes Farm at the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival downtown Saturday. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Bill Whitley of Medford gets his dog Tater ready for the dog parade Saturday morning during the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival downtown. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Talent Mayor Darby Ayers-Flood, left, says hello to a dog named Dexter during the dog parade at the 53rd annual Talent Harvest Festival Saturday. Rogue Valley Times photo by Andy Atkinson
Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Inside a wildfire evacuation plan: What to expect when it’s time to leave

October 10, 2025

After having to adapt on the fly during the Almeda Fire five years ago, agencies across Jackson County now have a shared wildfire evacuation plan that spells out each group’s duties. Law enforcement leads the way In the event of a citywide wildfire evacuation, while local fire departments and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will focus on fighting the fire.

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Ashland Food Project Building Community Ashland Oregon
Rogue Theater Company Waiting for Godot Grizzly Peak Winery Ashland Oregon
ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum Monster Ball Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

Inside a wildfire evacuation plan: What to expect when it’s time to leave

October 10, 2025

After having to adapt on the fly during the Almeda Fire five years ago, agencies across Jackson County now have a shared wildfire evacuation plan that spells out each group’s duties. Law enforcement leads the way In the event of a citywide wildfire evacuation, while local fire departments and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will focus on fighting the fire.

Read More >

Inner Peace: Thoughts on happiness

October 10, 2025

Jim Hatton: There is only one thing that causes unhappiness: attachment. Attachment comes when we hold on to something for fear of losing it because we believe that we can’t be happy without it.

Read More >

Relocations: MSNBC is not my model

October 10, 2025

Herbert Rothschild: Is it possible to write columns about torturing people in Guantanamo or eliminating the U.S. Agency for International Development without alienating those who are OK with such actions?

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Literary Arts Timothy Snyder Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Portland Oregon
Ashland Community Composting Ashland Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Ashland Climate Collaborative Sreets for Everyone Ashland Oregon

Become a sponsor

Explore More...

Closed for months, Lincoln School to be ‘shored up’ so engineers can make repair estimates

Ashland School District plans to contract with a Eugene-based firm to “shore up” the 1948 wing of the shuttered Lincoln School building, which the city fire marshal ordered shut days before the beginning of the school year in August.
Read More >

What are Rogue Theater Company fans waiting for? ‘Godot,’ of course

The Rogue Theater Company will bring to life Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” opening Thursday, Oct. 16. The production features a cast of celebrated Oregon Shakespeare Festival actors.
Read More >

Relocations: MSNBC is not my model

Herbert Rothschild: Is it possible to write columns about torturing people in Guantanamo or eliminating the U.S. Agency for International Development without alienating those who are OK with such actions?
Read More >

Crossword: First Settlers #02

This week's theme: four hidden tribes who had to leave our area, in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Solve it in your browser or download and print. Next Friday's crossword: Enjoy the Ride #03
Read More >

Building a bigger ‘we’: Renowned civil rights expert john a. powell addresses packed Ashland audience at launch of ‘All.Together.Now’

Nearly 600 people packed the Angus Bowmer Theatre in Ashland Monday for a talk by internationally recognized civil rights expert john a. powell and the launch of a new local initiative aimed at fostering collaboration.
Read More >

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.

Subscribe Now
No Thanks
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)