OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) -
You've probably driven over the Blue Bridge in Owensboro a time or two, but Saturday, thousands of people got the chance to walk across. It's the second year the city has hosted Bridge Day.
This year, Bridge Day was combined with the East Bridge Art and Music Festival downtown, which organizers say made the event even more successful.
"It's more people than I expected, so it's great," said Bob Smith, who biked across the bridge with his wife, Jane.
Bob and Jane Smith say it's their first time biking across the Blue Bridge, Saturday, enjoying a scenic bike route over the Ohio River.
"Not every city's located on the river," Bob said. "So, it's always nice to come down to the river, and now with the new riverfront, it just sort of draws people here."
Event organizers say over 10,000 people came out to walk or bike across the bridge and enjoy the East Bridge Art and Music Festival.
Street artists from Los Angeles created 3D chalk murals on Third street, and nearly 50 area art vendors set up booths for the community to browse and shop.
"We're beyond pleased with the turnout," said Katherine Taylor. "We've got people lining Second Street, lining Third Street, crossing the bridge, filling this area. We couldn't have asked for a better day."
Taylor, a curator with Studio Slant, a local art gallery that puts on this event with the city, says the fact that the walk and festival were combined this year helped bring more people and families downtown.
"It's something you drive across every once-in-a-while and you don't think much about, but when the kids get to see the water and see how big the bridge itself is," said September Board, who walked across the bridge Saturday.
Many people, like the Smith's, say they hope Bridge Day continues for years to come.
Organizers say Sunday, they'll start planning for next year's Bridge Day and Arts Festival, which will be September seventh.
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