Martinez resident Susan Moysin was among a crowd in downtown Augusta on Saturday experiencing the smell of exotic foods and the sound of ethnic dances as part of the 2008 Arts In The Heart of Augusta festival.
Ms. Moysin and Evans resident Johanna Dangler, both German immigrants to the U.S., said they have been attending the festival for years.
"We go to so many different festivals, but this is my favorite," Ms. Moysin said.
The festival wraps up today with more performances and a closing ceremony. The cost is $7 at the entrance, and children 10 and younger are admitted free.
Looking around at Saturday's fair weather and turnout, Brenda Durant, the executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council and the event's chairwoman, said she was glad to see how this year's incorporation of Arts in the Heart into the larger Westobou Festival appeared to be a wise choice.
"It's great to have the impact of the increased marketing to have our event explode," she said.
She didn't have an exact figure for the festival's turnout, but she said it seemed to be larger.
The featured country this year is the Philippines. Dem Cabacungan, the president of Augusta's Philippines delegation, said there was high demand this year for the nation's cuisine.
"The food looks like it's going to be gone today," she said. "The line is so long, it's exciting. I'm thrilled, but I'm worried that tomorrow there's not going to be any more."
She says the festival would fail without the hard work of the area's ethnic organizations.
"I have always been impressed by the ethnic groups," she said. "It's so exciting to see a lot of natives and immigrants who are citizens now just work together to put this thing together."
Reach Jonathan Overstreet at (706) 823-3708 or jonathan.overstreet@augustachronicle.com.
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