FREEPORT – For the 15th year in a row, FreeportUSA, a nonprofit member association dedicated to promoting Freeport, is bringing together more than 100 New England artists and makers of fine craft for the Freeport Fall Festival, on the L.L. Bean campus of the retailer’s flagship store on Main Street, Sept. 28 and 29, rain or shine.

According to FreeportUSA executive director Janet Dutson, the impetus behind the event was to lure visitors to Freeport during what was then a slow time after Labor Day.

“Things have certainly changed,” said Dutson. “September and October are now great travel periods, but even now, pre-foliage, things can be a little slow. We used the very popular concept of local artists and added a live music component. There is also great food.”

Most importantly, the event is entirely free, said Dutson.

The amount of exhibitors has doubled in size from last year, a testament to the event’s growing popularity and the surplus of local talent available to make it possible, said Dutson.

“We have had a huge growth period,” said Dutson. “We wanted to expand the concept to include food. It really tries to highlight Maine and the great things here.”

The Discovery Stage on the L.L. Bean campus will be the setting for two days of live music, including local acts Gunther Brown, Amy Allen and the Kenya Hall Band. Other headliners include Bath-based musician Max Ater, Serious Rooms, and youth ensembles from the Midcoast School of Music

In addition, the Freeport Fall Festival will feature free craft activities for children and the Maine Outdoor Film Festival, a traveling exhibition of outdoor filmmaking that began in 2012.

“We have a bunch of killer outdoor films shot here in Maine and across the world,” said Nick Callanan, co-founder of the festival. “It’s everything from whitewater kayaking to snowboarding. The festival is also a fundraiser for Teens to Trails, which encourages outdoor outings by teens. We’re really proud to have a film this year made by a Teens to Trails student. The fact that our festival is encouraging kids to make films is fantastic – you don’t get any more full circle than that.”

According to Dutson, many festival favorites will be returning this year, including Chris Bilodeau, winner of Best Photography three years running, and previous Fine Art award winners Joanna Skolfield, Martin Fosberg and Patti Trygg. In the fine craft category, KC Maxson Wood Turning will join newcomers Rickie Bogle of Lola Arts and Stephanie Petkers of The Wishful Moon. Demonstrations from Maine fiber artists and others will offer an interactive experience for those attending.

The Freeport Fall Festival is produced by FreeportUSA, and sponsored by L.L. Bean, Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen, Azure Cafe?, Ben & Jerry’s, Clarks, The Wishful Moon, Brown Goldsmiths, the Hilton Garden Inn, and Jockey.

More than 100 local artists will be on hand for the 15th annual Freeport Fall Festival, Sept. 28 and 29. The event is held on the campus of L.L. Bean and will also feature live music and local food.