By Mark Wozniak
Buffalo, NY – Warm sunny weather helped the Allentown Art Festival attract record crowds over the weekend.
Allentown Village Society officials estimated that 646,000 people took part in the festival, breaking last year's record of 610,000.
Fears of inadequate security proved to be unwarranted. Festival organizers said there was more security than ever. The security force included the Buffalo Police Reserve, off-duty Buffalo police officers and the Erie County Sheriff's deputies.
There were two reports of overnight vandalism Sunday morning. Barbara Hartman of Ithaca reported a shelf was toppled at her booth, breaking some pieces of pottery. She estimated her loss at $2,000. A second artist, Amy Bilheimer of Rochester, said a pop-up tent she was using was damaged while some tools and a cellular phone were taken.
Authorities also reported the arrest of two men. Police were called after the men were spotted taking artwork from exhibitor tents. A Buffalo police officer was hurt in a struggle with one of the suspects.