Sunshine draws 45,000 people

While the line of customers slowly advances to fill the void, two women leave the Igloo shaved ice stand with a cool, refreshing treat on a 90-plus degree day in Hillsboro?s downtown.When the first drops of rain began falling on Hills?boro around 7 p.m. Satur?day, Penni Schroeder had an immediate response.

?I was just praising the Lord?thank you!? said the director of the Arts & Crafts Fair.

Predictions of rain were Schroeder?s biggest concern as the 45th annual event in downtown Hillsboro drew closer.

As it turned out, local law enforcement estimated that between 40,000 and 45,000 people turned out for the day when abundant sunshine and temperatures creeping into the 90s proved to be the biggest challenge.

?It was warm, maybe a little too warm for shoppers,? Schroeder said. ?I think that?s why the crowd was a lot less in the afternoon this year than last year.

?Last year they shopped clear up to 4 o?clock,? she added. ?We had a pretty good crowd then because when we let the cars in at 4:30, we were hoping, oh, I hope it?s not dangerous.

?This year it was like there was no one around by 4:30.?

Weather aside, Schroeder called the day-long event a success for vendors of arts and crafts as well as those selling concessions.

?I feel like probably 90 percent said ?we had a great day,?? Schroeder said about the artisans. ?There were a few that didn?t have a good day, and it might be because they were new this year. I didn?t know.?

Hillsboro High School senior Madison Klein mugs for the camera while working her shift at the cinnamon roasted nut stand near Emprise Bank. The stand served as a fundraiser for the high school softball team.Most local food vendors had lines of customers for much of the day.

?I?m guessing they all did really well,? she said. ?I went to every food booth and it seemed like there were lines everywhere.?

Hillsboro Police Chief Dan Kinning said emergency services personnel also had a good day?which for them means not having a whole lot to do.

?We really had no issues other than the usual few parking problems,? Kinning said. ?No criminal activity and no accidents. I don?t think EMS had a whole lot either, maybe a couple of calls.?

Schroeder said she and her team of volunteers will take some time off now that the event has passed, but her work for the 2015 fair will begin in late October.

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