WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — An annual community celebration of the arts is in the books. The four-day Fine Arts Fiesta wrapped up in Downtown Wilkes-Barre.
It brought crowds from all over the state, offering art lovers and passive painters alike a little bit of everything.
The sound of jazz music filled the Public Square on Sunday as the final act of the four-day Fine Arts Fiesta played a final tune.
The smell of funnel cake filled the air.
Artists, art enthusiasts, and locals looked to enjoy the atmosphere one last time for another year.
"We come every year, it's the best event. Start of summer, start of springtime, come to eat, come to drink, come to see all the art," Plains Township resident AJ Klopotoski stated.
"You see a lot of friends, you meet a lot of people you didn't know before, it's just a terrific afternoon," Kingston Volunteer Joe VanJura said.
This year's fiesta featured more than 40 artists from potters and woodworkers to painters and glassmakers.
These artists are not just from northeastern Pennsylvania, but also across the state.
Cool temps may prompt bringing that spring jacket back out
"It's a really fun, family-friendly event promoting the arts. It's a free gift of the arts. Everything is free," Board of the Fine Arts Fiesta President Ann Saxton explained.
For those looking to spend a little dough, dozens of food vendors were lined up, offering a little bit of everything.
Organizers say, despite the rain, they couldn't have asked for a better turnout at this year's Fine Arts Fiesta.
They estimate roughly 35,000 people make their way to the Diamond City each year for this one-of-a-kind event. Saxton says this year, they may have seen even more.
"Every year it's a great event that many people love to come to, but we were really busy this year, it was great!" Saxton exclaimed.
People 28/22 News spoke with at the Fiesta say, while the event has so much to offer, seeing people take the time to appreciate the arts is enough.
"Seeing people young and old, everybody's coming out. It's nice, it's nice to see people coming out for art, especially in this day and age," Klopotoski continued.
"Education and the arts themselves are being restricted in our country right now. I think it's important to have a public display of support for the arts as opposed to an attitude that they are of secondary or tertiary importance," VanJura explained.
Organizers will begin planning next year's Fine Arts Fiesta, which will mark the 70th one of the festival's history.
