Despite the rain Saturday morning, co-chair Bonnie Rietz had high hopes for the ArtWorks Festival this weekend.

“It’s crazy because we have all of these volunteers streaming in with their blue volunteer t-shirts and not very many people, because of the rain,” Rietz said before the sun had come out Saturday afternoon. “I have a feeling this afternoon there’s going to be a lot [more people].”

And she was right. After the sun came out, more people started showing up at the Austin Utilities Plant to see the different artists, musicians and authors. Children were already painting the Volkswagen Bug in the center of the festival.

“It’s fun, there’s kind of a party atmosphere, because there’s nothing you can do about the weather,” Reitz said.

Many types of artists, both local and not, came together Saturday to showcase their works and talents during the ArtWorks Festival.

“It’s so fun, to be around the musicians and the artists and the authors, and just in that atmosphere,” Rietz said. “This is why we do it. So the community can come together and celebrate the arts. It’s wonderful.”

She added, “We worked so hard for so long and then all of a sudden, you know the 23 and 24 of August have been in my mind for, what, a year, since the last festival, and now it’s here.”

The festival took place both Saturday and Sunday.