NORMAL -- Intermittent downpours Saturday morning didn't stop fans of the 26th annual Sugar Creeks Art Festival in Normal.

By early afternoon, the rain had stopped and more crowds filled the Illinois State University quad and stretch of North Street that hosted the competition and sale. The festival continues Sunday.

With sunnier weather predicted, McLean County Arts Center organizers as well as more than 100 artists expect an even better turnout for the second day.

"Oh they'll be packed here tomorrow," said artist Tom Gross of East Peoria, standing under the cover of his tent on the quad.

"Some festivals tell you there'll be 20,000 visitors -- and you get there and the crowd's about 2,000. But here, it really is 20,000. This one is very popular," he added.

Gross displayed his paintings of diners, ballparks, skyscrapers and other features. Some depicted distant New York icons like the Chrysler Building. Others were closer to home -- the Towanda Plaza sign from Bloomington and the Lucca Grill in Bloomington, for example.

The rain wasn't all bad: Jeff Foste, an Alamo II employee, stood in front of the business at 319 North St. holding a large black umbrella in one hand and an impromptu poster that read: "We sell umbrellas."

"Oh yeah, I'd definitely say we're selling a lot more today," he said. "The kids don't seem to mind the rain though, they're all jumping in the puddles," said Foste. Down the street, a kids' area was busy with face painting, rock climbing and the Children's Discovery Museum and Ecology Action Center crafts.

Nici Terhune of Normal pushed a covered stroller Saturday with her 4-month-old daughter, Saalihya Gibson, inside. During a break in the rain, Terhune opened the cover and the smiling baby peeked out. "She really likes the music," said Terhune. For mom, the draw was the mix of artwork displayed.

"There's such a wide variety of stuff here. Sometimes, you see something and you never imagined it as art before," she said, noting such pieces as artist Sally Heinzel's plumbing pipe candleholders and Sondra Thompson's and Josie Thompson's varnished copper wire trees.

Friends Penny Duffee and Kathy Koehler, both of Bloomington, were looking for unique items to sell in a fund-raising auction.

Dog enthusiasts and members of Prairieland Standard Schnauzer Club, Duffee and Koehler, hoped to use the items in a fund-raiser for the club. Next May, the area schnauzer group will host that breed's national competition -- as part of Bloomington's Heart of Illinois Cluster show.

For Karen and Vern Wilson of Ellsworth, the summer event has become a kickoff to Christmas shopping. Karen Wilson said she loves art fairs and goes to many. "But this one is a favorite -- this has the best quality work," she said. She favors pen-and-ink works, paintings and the one-of-a-kind jewelry she finds.

Artist Anne McMehee Morris of Moline was a hit Saturday, with her framed glass creations stirring lots of conversation.

Morris uses a glass plate for canvas, and then applies mixed media designs before sealing it.

A few booths west, Connie Werkman of Decatur showed off her paintings and cheesecloth technique: First she applies the cloth to a canvas, manipulating it. In "Ellie's Flowers" viewers see a young girl clasping a bouquet behind her back.

Werkman turned the cloth into the creation, with the hardened cloth adding texture as folds of a skirt, braids of hair, and flowers.

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Go

What: 26^th annual Sugar Creek Arts Festival

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today

Where: Uptown Normal, starting at North and Fell streets and also on the Illinois State University quad

Cost: Free

Music schedule

Sunday performances on the ISU quad stage:

11 a.m. - Midwest Jazz Collective

12:45 p.m. - Joe Metzka;

2:30 p.m. - Hip Pocket.