Once again, the sun shone on the Ole Brook Festival – except for the occasional rainfall.

Despite the oncoming threat from the fringes of Tropical Storm Karen, showers were fairly limited, and Saturday saw mostly cloudy skies that broke into bright sunshine periodically.

Although blazing summer-like heat accompanied the bursts of sun, along with an extra dose of humidity, this year’s festival drew its usual big crowds to Brookhaven’s historic downtown.

Kay Burton, Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce marketing director and the mastermind behind this year’s festival, was busy Saturday morning, enjoying the crowd and beaming about the fun everyone seemed to be having.

Burton had predicted Friday morning that this year’s festival would be the biggest and best ever. New kids’ activities, like the Eurobungy ride, were accompanied this year by returning favorites, such as the mechanical bull, the fun jumps and more.

Arts and crafts and other vendors were there, as always, in abundance, literally offering something for everyone’s taste. The classic car show was back, drawing much interest to the shiny autos parked along Cherokee Street.

Scores of talented performers took to the big stage, serenading the crowd or dazzling them with fancy footwork.

And, of course, there was the food – and lots of it – wafting tempting aromas across the festival area, drawing in the diners, who grabbed a bite to eat and settled in on the steps and benches along South Railroad Avenue to savor their selections.

Keeping everything running like clockwork were Burton, the chamber and a small army of volunteers. They do an amazing job every year. Area residents also are blessed to have some generous sponsors who dig deep to help make the festival possible.

For those who didn’t make it to Ole Brook this year, we’d like to mention you missed a great festival. Be sure to circle the first weekend in October on your calendar for next year.