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It was a welcome change from last year, when Juniper House Homecare President Andrei Brel recalled the neighboring booth blowing over, and the literature on his home services business getting soaked.
Even the overcast morning had been met with gratitude by Jason Henderson, 35, who ran the 5K with his daughter Callie, 9, who placed fifth in her age group (he said the two held hands to help her finish the race). The 5K was Henderson's first West Hartford race, and it was a crowded one - in a good way.
"It's more exciting with more people," he said, sitting on the curb next to his daughter.
Booths lined the length of the Town Hall parking lot, from ERA Broder Group to the West Hartford Clean Energy Task Force.
Traditional fair fare was there - cotton candy, lemonade - and so were pastries from the St. George Armenian Church and kebabs from the Shish Kebab House of Afghanistan.
Kids bounced on bungee cords, climbed walls, ran through a maze, and petted a camel, some carrying balloons from Beth El Temple or Cavalry Fellowship. But the rides and games attracted adults, too. Joan Gesswin, who managed the water gun game, said that on Saturday, one woman played continuously for 10 minutes, giving away the prizes she won to children who walked past.
Harsha Nagarajaswamy sat with daughter Shreya Harshavardhana, 8. She had won an inflated purple hammer and some invisible ink from the Striker game, which measures strength (but gives prizes to all contestants).
Her brother had come to Celebrate! the day before, when she could not, and had won an inflated baseball bat. She wanted to win something, too.
"Today is her chance," said Nagarajaswamy.
Neal Blodgett, 88, of Higganum peddled his own hand-painted and -carved wooden birds and other animals at his craft booth, one of over 175 manned by artist and craftsmen who participated in a juried show.
"I can sit here and eat my lunch, and it's like being out in a park. Then every once in a while, I make a sale," he said.
He said business was brisk on Saturday.
The Rotary Club sold 3,000 hamburgers and hotdogs and ran out around 3:30 p.m. The organization has been fundraising at Celebrate! West Hartford since its inception, said President Michael Howard, and it was the first time they sold out.
"It's the first time in years we have had two good (weather) days," he said. "I attribute it to good weather and a lot of hardworking Rotarians."
One grilling Rotarian, Bob Rau, danced along to the music of Darik & the Funbags, who were onstage covering hits by Eminem and the Counting Crows, among others.
Later, Suzanne Fournier and Ron Martinez sat in chairs before the stage, waiting for the next band, River City Slim & the Zydeco Hogs, to come onstage. They moved to West Hartford two years ago from East Windsor, and this year marked their second time attending Celebrate! West Hartford.
"It's a great time. There's music, food, arts. They've got everything," said Martinez about the event, though he could have been talking about the town, too, on which subject both were equally enthusiastic.
"West Hartford is a great place to live," said Fournier. "I wouldn't want to live in any other town."
