There was a huge crowd on and around Delaware Avenue yesterday for the 52nd Annual Allentown Art Festival. Certainly, the sunshine helped draw the crowd, but, understandably some vendors expressed concern before the festival opened about how the ongoing recession would affect sales. I talked to at least six artists, all festival veterans, who described their sales to me pretty much in one word: “Fantastic!”  And, I was surprised to learn that most of these vendors had better sales on Saturday with chilly temperatures and threatening skies, than on sunny, warm Sunday.

I do understand that with more than 400 vendors, a half dozen is a small sample.  News Four’s Lindsay Schwarzwaelder talked to a couple of artists who said they thought people were making smaller purchases this year.  For them, that’s true, and there’s no way to get a true handle on total sales, except by these personal anecdotes.  I can only say that I was heartened by what I saw and heard in Allentown yesterday.  Maybe, just maybe, there is a light at the end of the tunnel..and it’s shining on a painting purchased at the Allentown Art Festival!

Can you believe bunny dogs (carrots on a bun) were hot sellers?

Big dogs rule at Allentown... but we were captivated by a red toy poodle from Tonawanda named Lilly.

Buffalo firefighters provided their services to the Allentown crowd.

Wheatfield artist Jody Ziehm extended her winning streak. After a blue ribbon last year, she captured a red this year for her watercolor of Aretha Franklin at the Presidential Inauguration.

Not sure how sales went for the Original Flower Shower, but it sure attracted a crowd!

Photographer Mark Callen says his third Allentown outing is his best. Photos of Buffalo landmarks, including the Aud, were big sellers.

The End (for this artist after a long weekend in Allentown!)