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07/08/2008 09:15 AM

 

08' Festival Follow-Up July 8, 2008 ECO staff – Laure Cioffi, Senior Journalist (B.E. Taylor Photo's) ELLWOOD CITY – The rain came and went on Sunday at the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts and Foods Festival, but it didn’t seem to put a damper on anything, according to festival chairman Tom Martz. “I don’t know where the people go when it rains, but they all came back when it was over,” he said. Martz estimates 25,000 people came through Ewing Park over the annual three-day event. There were more than 180 vendors on the grounds. Some came from as far away as California and Minnesota. Others didn’t have far to travel. David Herzog of Ellwood City set up shop airbrushing T-shirts. He started off busy. “My first order came in at 10 a.m. and I didn’t stop until 7 or 8 p.m.,” he said Friday night. “The past two events I did, I didn’t break even.” Vern Stilson had to travel back to Erie the first night to get more supplies. “We do a craft show every weekend and this is one of the nicer ones,” said Stilson who travels with his wife. Martz said there were fewer vendors this year, down from the normal 190 to 200. He blames high gasoline prices on the lower numbers, but believes it didn’t stop the people from attending. Martz said he met one group of 18 people who chartered a bus from Westmoreland County to attend. “They said `We’ll be back next year,’” Martz said. Friday night’s featured entertainer B.E. Taylor also deemed the festival a success. "It was a blast, and I don't mean that in any other way, but it's 4th of July. We had a great time, the audience was great and we love playing in Ellwood. We'll see you at Christmas," he said.