Despite the economic climate, arts festivals seem to be a growth industry in Augusta.

According to preliminary numbers, both the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival and the Westobou Festival exceeded expectations. Arts in the Heart, which took place Sept. 19-21, increased attendance by approximately 33 percent, and the event's revenue rose by about $25,000. Last year's attendance was approximately 50,000.

Brenda Durant, the executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council, which presents the annual festival, said she also saw more volunteers and food sales.

"We had some people who had to go home and cook Saturday night for Sunday because they had sold all their food," she said.

She said more than 3,500 volunteers worked at this year's festivals. She had to scurry to find enough volunteer wristbands.

"I had to dive into my stash of old Garden City Music Festival bands," she said with a laugh. "I mean, that's more people than will fit in the amphitheater. If we had a recognition party, we would have to rent the James Brown Arena."

Ms. Durant said the focus Westobou put on Augusta's creative community and families looking for inexpensive entertainment probably helped Arts in the Heart.

"I think in 2008 our community just got very excited about the arts," she said. "That and gas prices, well, it was a perfect storm."

Initially, Ms. Durant worried that attendance might shrink. The price of a three-day ticket increased this year from $5 to $7.

She said the last increase in Arts in the Heart prices, made several years ago, met with some resistance. She said there was far less this time.

All proceeds from the Arts in the Heart go to the greater Augusta Arts Council, a nonprofit organization, and its programs.

Fewer numbers were available for the Westobou Festival. As of Friday evening, approximately 60 percent of the productions had reported attendance numbers, but Kathi Dimmock, the director of the festival, said she felt comfortable estimating the total attendance, including Arts in the Heart, at about 100,000.

"It really has been incredible," she said.

Ms. Dimmock said the Augusta Symphony's Cirque de la Symphonie performance and the Augusta Opera's production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street each broke the respective organization's attendance record. She said Augusta State University and Le Chat Noir also reported excellent attendance.

She noted that most of the comment cards were filled out by local residents, but there were a few from out-of-state visitors. She hoped to have an idea of economic impact in the coming weeks.

"But this is a good start," she said.

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.