This year’s two-day Riverfest is believed to be the largest ever, organizers said this morning.

Riverfest 2006 President Josie Moody said she estimates 30,000 people attended the 19th annual Riverfest and the 38th annual Vicksburg Arts and Crafts Show.

&#8220Most of the turnout was Saturday,” said Moody, who estimated 8,000 to 9,000 tickets were sold for Friday night, but she said organizers had not finished counting Saturday’s ticket sales. &#8220We had a setback on Friday. But, I do think overall it was the biggest we’ve ever had.”

Much of Vicksburg was inundated early Friday night with a thunderstorm and rain, and rain fell intermittently throughout the evening.

But by Saturday morning, skies were sunny and the temperature climbed to 81.

Last year organizers said 20,000 tickets were sold to hear entertainers, and an estimated 5,000 attended the arts and crafts show.

Tickets this year cost $15 per night or $25 for two.

Moody said most of the downtown vendors were pleased with the turnout. She also said she thinks the decision to bring in four headliner acts – Bo Bice, John Lee Hooker Jr., Kansas and Morris Day & Time – was a good one.

&#8220Having the headliners did bring the crowds in Saturday night,” Moody said. &#8220I got up on someone’s balcony and all you could see was people.”

Moody said the Riverfest Board of Directors will look to beef up next year’s Riverfest because it will be the 20th. Planning will begin in a week, she said.

&#8220We want it to have that wow factor next year,” Moody said.

She also said organizers will discuss the location of the arts and crafts festival next year because of anticipated construction at Washington and Jackson streets.

WMHS Downtown LLC, a group of five local residents, is planning to build commercial and residential property on Washington between Grove and Jackson streets. The group purchased the property about a month ago from the City of Vicksburg through the urban renewal program and plans to start building in six months.

Moody said she is hoping to get feedback from those who attended this year’s Riverfest. To send comments to the board of directors, send an e-mail to riverfestfun@hotmail.com. The official Riverfest Web site is www.riverfestms.com.

Riverfest was begun under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and evolved to have its own board of volunteers. Income is from sponsors, ticket sales, booth rentals and other sources. Major expenses are professional performers, gates, security and rentals of everything from stages to cleanup.

Each year, the board tries to have enough income to pay advance costs of the next year’s event.