Photo by Todd Weddle / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Michael Smith breaks down tables and umbrellas Monday morning as workers and volunteers clean up after Trails West! concluded.

Teresa Fankhauser, executive director for the Allied Arts Council, is suffering from her usual exhaustion after her organization staged the Trails West! Music and Arts Festival Aug. 15 through 17.

But after this year’s turnout, she can definitely work up the energy to smile.

“The overall success of the festival is just one word: phenomenal,” Ms. Fankhauser said. “It went really, really well.”

According to Ms. Fankhauser, Trails West! drew an estimated 42,000 people over the festival’s three days, up from last year’s attendance of 40,000. Approximately 10,000 people attended the Friday and Sunday festivities, and more than 20,000 came out to see performances by modern-day country stars Ashton Shepherd and Kellie Pickler.

Festival organizers said a lot had to do with the picturesque August weather, which allowed people to keep bustling on the grounds throughout each day. They also chalk it up to smart booking, like getting ’80s rockers Night Ranger to perform Sunday night, which brought in above-average numbers for the festival’s final day.

“It was fun to watch grown-ups rocking out the way they probably rocked when they were in college,” said Christy Barber, Trails West! volunteer marketing chairwoman. “You could tell they were really enjoying it.”

While there were fewer vendors, folk artists and craftsmen this year, they reported great results, with some vendors running out of food items.

Official figures of Trails West! attendance and button purchases will be available later this week. In their second consecutive year of success after choosing to charge admission last year, organizers look forward positively to future festivals.

“People seem to like what we’re doing,” Ms. Fankhauser said.