MARYSVILLE — Where else can you go to munch on a hot dog while admiring a golf ball carved and painted to look like a rose?

With crafters and artisans filling dozens upon dozens of displays and tents, the city’s annual Homegrown Festival took over Third Street Aug. 8-9.

Those tents and displays were crammed with everything from the above-mentioned golf balls to jewelry to candles to hats to pillows to … well, just about anything that could be handmade or grown.

“There is such a huge variety of things,” said visitor Mary Busche. “It’s hard to believe it was all made around here and most of it by hand.”

“Homegrown was put together to attract people to the downtown,” said Mary Burns, president of the Marysville Downtown Merchants Association. “And while people are enjoying the event, we hope they notice the shops along Third Street and come back.”

Burns noted this year’s event attracted 25 percent more vendors than last year’s Homegrown.

Melissa Jensen of Canine Frosting was one of the artisans making her first appearance at Homegrown. Jensen was showing off handmade, highly decorative dog collars and similar items.

Perhaps predictably, Jensen said she started out making the collars for her own pets, but soon started getting requests from friends and families. For Homegrown, she seemed to be hoping her display would be somewhat unique.

“People don’t always expect to see dog items,” Jensen said.

Also making a first appearance at Homegrown were the Desperate Housewives of Marysville.

“We’re moms who want to stay at home with the kids and still not go insane,” explained one of those Desperate Housewives, Jeanna Lovelace.

More seriously, Lovelace and partner Wendy Ransier said the group of three moms put together crafts such as cards, soap and pillowcases in the name of camaraderie and a hope to make some extra spending money.

“We get together late into the evening, drink coffee and work,” Ransier said.

Chainsaw in hand and busily creating a small wooden terrier, wood carver Cy Williams most definitely was not making his first Homegrown appearance. Williams said he’s attended at least 20 of the annual events.

“I like getting out and being with the crowds,” he said.

Another Homegrown veteran, Susan Large said she has been making dream catchers and similar items for 25 years. She and Williams were only two of the numerous artists representing the Tulalip Tribes.

Having lived in Marysville for 28 years, another woodcarver, Fred Amsbury was making his third appearance at Homegrown.

“I’m having a blast,” Amsbury said early in the afternoon of Aug. 8. “I haven’t sold anything yet, but I will.”