Fabulous weather, a beautiful location and a lengthy list of vendors and activities is a recipe for large crowds, organizers of the 2019 Kinzua Bridge Fall Festival have found.

In fact, roughly 16,000 visitors attended the festival on Saturday and Sunday, said Mary Ann Burggraf, executive director of the Kinzua Bridge Foundation Inc.

At least 9,000 people — more than the population of Bradford City — came out Saturday to enjoy the festivities. On Sunday, 6,000 to 7,000 visitors came out.

This was “extremely astounding,” said Burggraf. “The magnitude of the crowds was unbelievable.”

She noted there was “something for everyone” to enjoy.

Features of the event included more than 100 vendors; live music by local musicians; a Sasquatch Calling Contest; demonstrations such as cider making, bannock making and more; walk-through exhibits; birds of prey; food; and more.

“All the vendors were very pleased,” she noted, added that lines by the food vendors were “unbelievable.”

A first for the event’s 26-year history was a nondenominational community gathering of local churches on Sunday, which Burggraf said was “well received and well supported.”

The gathering of churches included words from multiple ministers and several gospel musicians.

Special police from Wilcox, Smethport and Lewis Run helped keep order while visitors looked for parking, she said.

The Area Transportation Authority provided a trolley to shuttle visitors between the event and the parking areas, too.

Burggaf noted that many had to wait in line to get parking and get into the park, and some left before they were able to take part in the fun. The special police and foundation members felt bad that people were unable to stay, she added.

The only time she mentioned that attendance at the Fall Fest was higher was the year of the “grand reopening,” when the Skywalk was unveiled.

Burggraf credits the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and volunteers from the Kinzua Bridge Foundation for the event’s success. She noted that no one with the foundation — not even Burggraf, the executive director — receive any monetary compensation for the work they put in to the park.

She noted the musical acts who entertained throughout the weekend were not paid, either.

Burggraf was pleased overall with how the event turned out.

“It was phenomenal. It truly was,” she said.

While autumn has officially begin, the busy season for Kinzua Bridge State Park is far from over, according to Burggraf, who anticipates the number of regular visitors to “skyrocket” once October hits.

“It’s the Number 1 place in the area to view the fall foliage,” she explained.