The 40th annual Fall for the Arts Festival drew a large crowd of people seeking to experience Chestnut Hill on a beautiful Sunday last weekend. 

“It was a really good turnout,” Chestnut Hill Business District Executive Director Courtney O’Neill told the Local. “At last year's fall festival, we did have an analysis done with 9500 visitors and this felt much more than that.” 

This year's festival expanded its footprint, featuring more vendors than in previous years. The event stretched over seven blocks along Germantown Avenue, from West Willow Grove Avenue to West Evergreen Avenue. Visitors enjoyed live demonstrations, activities, music, and food. Two bands provided live music on the steps of McNally's and Cosmos.

"Subaru, one of our presenting sponsors, had a very popular area," O'Neill said. "All the intersections were really busy. We had food trucks stationed in the intersections where our restaurants were not."

The festival also celebrated local artistic talent with its annual competition. In the Oil/Acrylics category, Madison Makala Greiner took first place, with Molly Creamer securing second. The Drawing/Illustration/Printmaking category saw Bob Richey claim the top spot, followed by Laura Murdoch.

Sculpture enthusiasts admired the winning work "Root and Rocks" by Kiya Nicole, while Jersey Driftwood Art earned second place. In Watercolors, Milan Melicharek's pieces won first prize, with Lisa Hurwitz Design taking second.

Photography buffs celebrated Dan Barends' first-place win, with Melvin Chappell Photography earning runner-up honors. The Crafts category showcased the talents of Carol Allen Pottery in first place and Gail M. Levin in second.

The highlight of the awards was the Best in Show, which went to the impressive work presented by Pigs Alley Gallery.