Huge crowds, record-breaking sales, and gracious hospitality topped the list of what made the weekend's third annual Art on the Square the biggest and most successful Belleville festival to date.

"It was a fabulous event," said Patty Gregory, Art on the Square director. "We're all just so excited that it was such a success."

Gregory estimated more than 60,000 people attended the weekend event. Last year's attendance was strong at 45,000. "We are sure that attendance this year was at least 35% higher than last," Gregory said.

Festival-goers included serious buyers, browsers, and families out to enjoy the art, entertainment, and food along the streets of the downtown public square.

"This is the best thing that ever hit Belleville," said Rise Renth, of Belleville, whose daughter and friend were busy making their own pottery in the children's area. "Kids need art," she said. "I wouldn't miss it for anything." Her daughter Abigail Renth, 8, said she loved art but admitted, "I like the food the best."

Though food and continuous entertainment ranked high at the festival, the real draw was the work of 100 artists selected from more than 700 applicants to appear at this year's Art on the Square.

"This is such a wonderful venue," said Carole Hiatt, of Belleville. "They have such a beautiful and diverse selection." Hiatt's friend, Greg Wilburn, from Germantown, bought a glass object d'art by Sharon Fujimoto. At $650, the piece was inexpensive compared to other work at the festival, some of which was priced well into the thousands.

Not all of the purchases were so tough on the wallet, however. Nancy Franke, of Belleville, took home a $20 hand-blown glass bird designed by Jim Engebretson. "I like the way it looks on the inside," Franke said of her new treasure. "It's not something you could buy just anywhere."

Purchases, large and small, added up quickly over the weekend. "Sales were the best ever," said Gregory. She said by Sunday evening many artists were reporting sales between $4,000 and $18,000, with several artists reporting more than $10,000 in sales.

Art on the Square has a pre-purchase program called "art cash" that guarantees sales for artists. This year pre-purchase sales were more than $54,000, compared to about $40,000 last year. That was good news for Art on the Square organizers and the artists who traveled to Belleville from around the country, as well as from Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

The buzz among the artists who dotted the streets under festive white tents was the superb organization and hospitality provided by Art on the Square organizers. Bill Coleman, a Pennsylvania photographer who took part in the show for the first time, said, "I've never in 31 years of going to festivals have seen a show like this. There is a warmth here among the people, and the hospitality committee is just spoiling the hell out of us."

"I heard it was a great show, and it is," said glass artist, Earl James. "The organizers here are on top of things, and people are committed to buying work." The Cleveland artist added, "The St. Louis area is really starting to get a good reputation for art."

The artists were so impressed with Art on the Square organizers, in fact, that they gave a standing ovation at the Sunday evening awards ceremony. Gregory said this year's Art on the Square involved more than 200 volunteers. "It is just such a thrill to see all of these committed people come together to work on this show. It's fun seeing a lot of different personalities all work together so well," Gregory said.

Artists walked away from the awards ceremony with $27,000 in prize money – another reason Art on the Square ranks high on the art show circuit.

Best of Show went to Aletha Jones, a watercolor artist from Madison, Wisconsin. The Ed L. Karasek Award went to wood artist Timothy Francis of Cobden, Illinois. Dick Codding, also of Cobden, won the Joan Voss Renner award for his wood art. The Mayor's Choice went to oil painter Li Wang, of Ontario, Canada.

Awards were given to one artist from each of the 11 categories represented at the show. Best in Category Winners were: oil and acrylics-Robert Zhang; watercolors-Larry Stephenson; drawing and graphics-John S. Gibb; mixed media-Marsha Engeltjes; photography-Joe Hoynick; sculpture-Jim Martin; glass-Scott and Barry Davis;Jewelry-Robert Henion; clay-Fong Choo; fine craft- Samuel Yao; wood-Matthew Hatalya.

Seven artists received Awards of Excellence: Jerry Adams/sculpture; John Bingham/glass; Sharon Brush/clay; Shawn Cornell/oils; Beverly Hayden/photography; Frank Neef/clay; Jon Michael Route/mixed media.

The 12th annual Congressional District High School Arts Competition also took place at this year's Art on the Square. U.S. Congressman Jerry F. Costello announced the winners: photography, Kyle Key, Marion High School; collage- Logan Patton, Marion High School; computer art- Sam Camden, Marion High School; mixed media- Ashley Dunning, Belleville West High School; drawing-Jessica Moosa, Althoff High School; painting- Brian Schmidt, Althoff High School; prints- Sulavan Bollinger, Marion High School.

Third Place in the overall high school competition went to Meghan Wilson of Althoff High School; second place went to Devon Clifford of Marion High School; first place was awarded to Sarah Goetter of Althoff High School. Goetter's winning art work will be hung, along with other congressional district winners, in the U.S. Capitol. She will also receive a $3000 scholarship from the Savannah School of Art.