TAMAQUA - Thousands of people walked downtown for the Tamaqua Summerfest.
While it did rain a little, that didn't keep people away from the sights and sounds of the event, hosted by the Tamaqua Historical Society.
"The drops were hardly noticeable," Dale Freudenberger, historical society president, said.
Vendors sold items including dog toys, jewelry and food. Musical entertainment was provided and a clown made balloon animals and gave them to children. People could go for a ride in a red trolley pulled by Belgian draft horses and even antique cars were at the event for people to see.
"Our Summerfest has kind of become a homecoming for families," Freudenberger said.
This is the 23rd year for the event always held on Father's Day, he said.
The event has grown every year since it started, organizers said.
Freudenberger estimated about 2,000 people attended the first event and there were about 40 vendors. This year, he said, about 5,000 people walked downtown during the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m event and 110 vendors were there.
Eating a piece of cheese pizza along Broad Street, George Lineburg, 29, of Tamaqua, said he was enjoying himself.
He said there were more vendors this year than last, this being his third time at the event.
Tom Burns, Summit Hill, Carbon County, and his family were driving in the area and decided to stop by.
His wife, Amy, son, Rodderick, 7 months, and daughters, Celeste, 5, Ella, 8, and Peyton, 10, waited to get balloons from Buster the Clown.
Burns said his family was enjoying the event.
"Love it," he said.
Gretchen Yulanavage, a vendor on Broad Street, and owner of Fit To Be Tiled, said this is the second year she has sold small, square tiles at the event.
"A lot of people come. It's a community thing," she said.
The interesting sights weren't just along Broad Street.
Farther down on Railroad Street, near the Tamaqua Library, there were 40 cars lined up for people to admire.
One of them was a 1953 Studebaker.
Rory Hahn, Lehighton, bought the car in 1974 for $150 from a friend.
The car is two colors, a dark sapphire blue and a quasar blue. It's a manual and has a V8 engine.
Hahn has the bill of sale from the car sold new to Henry H. Allen, Tamaqua, from Dudley Garage in the borough.
The yellow paper says the price of the car was $2,320.28. Allen traded in a 1947 Nash and received $500 off the price of the Studebaker, paying $1,820.28.
Linda Hahn, Rory's wife, said her husband probably spent $30,000 or more to restore the car.
"It's been redone twice," she said.
The dash and steering column are some of the original parts.
Hahn said he keeps the car in his garage. They even keep in contact with the original owners of the car to tell them about it.
Champ Holman, deputy secretary for community affairs and development with the state Department of Community and Economic Development and a Mahanoy City native, also was downtown at during the Summerfest.
"I love to see the love of community. It's a great thing," he said.