NORMAL - The Sugar Creeks Arts Festival turns 25 this weekend. And true to the style it's developed over the years, both new and old friends browsed the 170-booth juried festival and sale. | Video | Photo gallery

Despite an early morning shower and late afternoon storm clouds, the fest stayed sunny - matching the sunshine logo it's carried for a quarter of a century.

Among first-time shoppers were Pete and Jessica Terrence of Normal. A State Farm Insurance Cos. transfer brought the couple from Orlando, Fla.

"It's a lot bigger than I expected," Pete Terrence said. On Saturday afternoon, he and his wife both had their arms full of items to decorate their new home.

Among the items were bird feeders and planters from the booth of Altona-based welding artists Rachel and Alan Haynes. Featuring recycled metal and glass sculptures, the booth, just south of Hovey Hall, proved a busy spot.

A young girl proudly showed her new dragonfly lawn ornament. "It's like a fly," said Grace Smalley, 4, of Tremont. She joined her parents and two brothers wandering through the exhibit booth.

"This is one of my kids' favorite booths," said Natalie Smalley, standing close, noting the items can be handled and aren't as fragile as some of the other art sold at the event.

The event grew from Fred Mills and businessman Kup Tcheng's plan to have a summer downtown event. Mills died earlier this year. The first festival had only about 35 participants.

Ying Zhou of Naperville sold clay flowers, shaped into orchids, lilies and other varieties. Originally from China, the artist said she learned the Taiwanese tradition from a friend, but uses a Japanese style for the clay making.

"They are so pretty. It's hard to believe they are made out of actual clay," said Nancy Deffenbaugh of Bloomington, pointing to a 1-inch-tall sunflower in a tiny pot. The shopper bought two - one for herself, and another as a birthday gift for a friend.

Around the bend, local artist Sheila Asbell Allen unveiled some new acrylic and colored pencil works. She's been a frequent participant during the festival's 25-year run. Her colorful paintings mostly feature human figures bending and blending into other shapes.

Strolling through the quad with her daughter and granddaughter, Chris Piazza of Normal - a 20-year Sugar Creek veteran - stopped to tell Asbell Allen how she admired the work.

"It's appealing. I don't know how to explain it: When I see it, I feel happy," Piazza said of Asbell Allen's work.

The festival also features craft areas for children, food booths and two music stages - one at North Street and another on the quad in front of Fell Hall.

Tom Land of Normal said he likes to browse the different booths and admire the art, but the music of Sugar Creek is his favorite. On Saturday afternoon, he didn't let gray clouds scare him off. Carrying his own lawn chair, he headed to hear Southside Cindy perform. Land planned to return today to catch more music.

Music is scheduled by WGLT-FM Radio, which organizes the festival along with the McLean County Arts Center, the Uptown Business Association and the town of Normal.

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Festival, Day 2

What: Sugar Creek Arts Festival

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today

Where: North Street in uptown Normal, west onto the Illinois State University quad

Admission: Free

Information: www.mcac.org

Entertainment lineup

North Street Stage

11 a.m.: Brian Choban Jazz Quintet

12:30 p.m.: Denise LaGrassa

2:30 p.m.: Swing Daddies

Quad stage

10:30 a.m.: Inland Island

Noon: Dave Chastain Band

2 p.m.: Hip Pocket

Theater stage at Hovey Hall

10 a.m.: Shakespeare Festival

Noon: Heartland Theatre

Parking

Free at any ISU decks, or red-marked ground lots; also new town of Normal parking deck on College Avenue.