What they all said. This was certainly another successful Folklife Festival, in spite of the construction zone in the Middle of Everything.

I'm told that maybe a dozen people asked for stickers, including somebody from New Mexico who showed up before I had explained the sticker deal to Beth and Mary, who were throroughly confused by the request. If somebody else tries this at another festival, it might work better with a different kind of sticker--maybe a dayglow thingy.

The participants' party, at the old Navy Armory on Lake Union, was an improvement over previous years, but the amplified band drove most of the singers over to the Wawona nearby. That's a big three-masted ship that has been undergoing restoration for as long as I can remember. The deck may be best described as a lot of dry rot held together with duct tape and good intentions.

I haven't heard the final numbers, but it's my impression that the attendance and the revenue were about the same as last year, which is good for the future.

The folks who weren't there missed a good four-day party. Make your plans for next year now.