Published April 27, 2009 03:02 pm - Bonnie Amspacher figures she sold a bunch of chili dogs.
By late Saturday afternoon, Bonnie and her sister, Sarah, said they'd sold dozens and dozens of chili dogs at a small booth outside their dad's restaurant, The Diner.
UPDATED: Sun, music brings thousands downtown
By M. Scott Carter
VIew Panoramas of Festival
Bonnie Amspacher figures she sold a bunch of chili dogs.
By late Saturday afternoon, Bonnie and her sister, Sarah, said they'd sold dozens and dozens of chili dogs at a small booth outside their dad's restaurant, The Diner.
Like thousands of others, the Amspachers spent the day downtown at the Norman Music Festival. And when they weren't selling chili dogs, or water, or energy drinks, Bonnie said they simply watched the crowd.
"It's been steady," she said. "But last year we sold more. Last year we were the only food vendor on the street; this year we have a lot of competition. But standing here watching the crowd -- well that's great."
She's not kidding.
With food vendors, merchants and two huge stages parked at the opposite ends of Main Street, downtown looked like the State Fair hooked up with Woodstock -- and settled in Norman. The crowd -- estimated between 8,000 and 10,000 -- moved smoothly between Porter Avenue and James Garner Parkway.
And this year's festival had something from everyone -- country music at one end of Main and rock n' roll playing at the other end. Entire cross sections of humanity (and musical tastes) took advantage of the sun for the chance to hear live music. Everywhere there were hippies, hippie wannabes, punks, students, geeks, nerds, rednecks, goths, new agers, the faithful, moms, dads, kids and several hundred people dressed so unusually they defied description.
There were few problems.
A heavy contingent of police and other emergency personnel -- both on foot and on bikes -- patrolled the area. "We've had very few problems," said police Lt. Kyle Harris. "The crowd has been very well behaved."
It seems Norman likes its music.
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It was obvious the kid with the funky orange hair was smitten by the brunette in the yellow sundress. He slid past her several times on his skateboard -- weaving skillfully in and out of the sea of humanity trolling Main -- and tried desperately to get her attention.
She looked at him once.
Just once.
Then she turned and resumed her conversation with several other girls standing with her. They laughed and giggled and even swayed a time or two to the music, but none of them looked at the kid with the orange hair.