More than 130 artists filled the streets around Northam Park on Sept. 7 for the 60th Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

The turnout topped the 120 juried artists the city had announced ahead of the event. Five additional Emerging Artist spaces were also part of this year's lineup, according to the city. The festival ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission at 2850 Tremont Road.

The milestone matters in Upper Arlington.

In 1966, just 12 artists gathered on the grass near the library in Miller Park for the first edition. Sixty years later, the festival draws more than 15,000 visitors annually and fills the parking lot between the UA Public Library, Tremont Elementary School and Tremont Pool, according to the city's festival page.

Artists working in paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, sculpture and mixed media were selected through a blind jury process judging creativity, craftsmanship and booth presentation. Based on the 2023 and 2024 artist surveys, exhibitors average $3,000 in sales on festival day.

The main stage featured four acts: Chaz and Nicki with Hangtime opened at 11 a.m., followed by Blue Spectrum, Donna Mogavero and the Spirit Lifters, and Long Play through the afternoon. Street performers included the UA Marching Band, Amazing Giants Stilt Walkers, a Columbus Fashion Academy puppet show and musician Saavan Arora.

The Art Activities Area offered hands-on projects for all ages. Kids could try Lego block printmaking, make fabric puppets, paint rocks or felt mushrooms. A toddler music tent welcomed children ages 6 months to 5 years.

Jodi Hatfield of the city's Cultural Arts Division managed the event with help from a coordinating committee and roughly 100 community volunteers. Tremont Road between Farleigh Road and Northam Road was closed from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and a free shuttle ran from Wellington School on Reed Road about every 15 minutes.

One exhibiting artist, reflecting on the 2024 festival, called it "my best one day show to date with doing shows for over 10 years" in a testimonial posted on the city's festival page.

The city has not announced dates for the 2027 festival. Updates will be posted on the city's festival page.