RALEIGH -- A little rain wasn't going to keep thousands of people from attending the city's big annual all-day block party on Saturday.
Between 40,000 and 50,000 people attended the fifth annual Raleigh Wide Open celebration in downtown, according to Taylor Traversari, an event organizer for the city. Although it rained intermittently Saturday, large crowds still packed downtown to hear the music, eat the food and watch the various events.
"I didn't think that there would be that many people here with the threat of rain," said Patrick Lahiff of Raleigh, who brought his two children with him Saturday. "But it was really packed walking up the streets."
Traversari said it helped that the rain wasn't coming down hard enough at any point to drive the crowd off the streets.
Started in 2006 to mark the reopening of Fayetteville Street, Raleigh Wide Open has grown into a major blowout. This year's theme was extreme sports, highlighted by a circus, stunt bicycle riding, motocross stunts and wrestling. There were also eating contests for those who consider that a sport.
This year's celebration was highlighted by the recent opening of the Raleigh Amphitheater, where Barenaked Ladies were scheduled to perform Saturday evening.
Food lovers were able to dine on a variety of fair food novelties such as fried Oreos and deep-fried corn, and ethnic dishes such as German cheese bread and Italian zeppoles.
The bevy of activities was a welcome sign to Alice Gridley of how much downtown Raleigh has changed from being a dead spot for weekend and evening fun.
"We never came here to downtown," said Gridley, 28, who grew up in West Raleigh. "There wasn't a reason to come to downtown."
Now Gridley lives downtown with her husband, Dan, and their 5-month-old son, Hank. Activities like Raleigh Wide Open are just some of the many things they now do for entertainment in downtown Raleigh.
William and Angela Hardwick made the trek from Rolesville to show solidarity with Raleigh. Along with their 11-year-old daughter, Saidah, they spent the afternoon reclining on folding chairs and watching the crowds move along Fayetteville Street.
Show of support
"We're here to support Raleigh," said Angela Hardwick. "We're all part of the Triangle."
Tim Bruns of Chapel Hill came to the celebration with his three children with more than just an agenda of having fun. He wanted to make a statement by taking the Amtrak train from Durham to Raleigh.
"The festival is gaining momentum, and we're also big supporters of expanding the rail system," Bruns said.
The special events drew some of the biggest crowds Saturday.
Crowds, several rows deep, gathered outside the Raleigh Convention Center to watch bicyclists and skateboarders defy gravity. Bicyclists hurled themselves into the air off an inclined ramp. They did vertical and horizontal 360s or propelled themselves into the air while taking their hands or feet off the bikes.
"I was worried a couple of times for them," said Kole Swanser of Cary. "They were pretty amazing."
The crowd was even louder for the doughnut eating contest.
24 doughnuts wins title
A total of 32 contestants initially competed in heats of eight to see who could eat the most doughnuts in one minute. The four finalists competed to see who could put away the most doughnuts in three minutes.
A.J. Jimerson of Butner came out on top by eating six doughnuts in the first round and finishing off 18 doughnuts in the finals. Jimerson, the dean of students at Durham Nativity School, was urged to compete by his wife, Angela.
"He's a runner," Angela Jimerson said. "He can run it off."
It's going to take a while for Jimerson to run off the 4,800 calories he consumed Saturday. He'll have a chance to work off even more, as his prize package includes a year's supply of doughnuts.
But not everyone was happy Saturday.
Some of the participants at Art Raleigh, a festival consisting of 25 independent North Carolina artists,weren't happy that they were moved farther away from the main route along Fayetteville Street. They were placed this year in front of the Raleigh Convention Center, which some artists complained reduced the amount of traffic and sales this year.
"Not being there [on Fayetteville Street] has hurt us," said Kimberly Kearney of Raleigh, who makes hand-woven beaded jewelry.
