More than two dozen merchants and food vendors had booths on North Fort Thomas Avenue and in nearby parking lots. Organizers said about 3,500 showed up.

Meg Deckert, 38, who has lived in Fort Thomas two years, admired the new streetscaped sidewalks along the avenue while she waited for Pure Prairie League to perform. Michael Edward Connor, pianist for the band, was a native of Latonia and graduate of Newport Catholic High school. He died last month.

"I'm waiting to hear the band," she said. "I don't know if I remember any of their songs."

She did, as it turned out: "Aime," the group's biggest hit. The Blue Birds and Ryan Adcock Band also performed.

"I think it's a great idea. It's bigger than I thought it would be," said Cathy Ross of the Fort Thomas Woman's Club as she took a break from preparing foods and tea at the club.

"It went well," said Myrna Richter, who was kept busy during the festival serving new customers at her daughter's store, Adalia Mae's Old Fashioned Shoppe, which sells candies and ice cream.

"We've only been here since December, so some people still don't know we're here," Richter said.

E-mail mrutledge@enquirer.com