Numerous Marshalltown residents braved the hot temperatures on Saturday and strolled Main Street for the annual event.

Marshalltown Central Business District Promotion Chair Alushia Fitzgerald estimated roughly 1,500 attendees were there at the height of the event.

“The number of people was about on par with previous years,” she said. “It may have been a little lower, but we had nicer weather last year. When it gets hotter, people tend not to come out.”

Overall, Fitzgerald was happy with how everything transpired.

Ethen Santana and Alyssa Smith turn the pages of their sheet music between songs during Bee Ridiculous Days. They performed in front of the Tremont for the first time.

“I think it went well,” she said. “It was a good turnout of participants and the community.”

Fitzgerald spoke with some of the vendors, first responders and people running the kids activities and said they were all happy with the outcome.

Phil Cox with Heritage Forge was demonstrating blacksmith work during the event, and agreed with Fitzgerald on the number of attendees.

“I think it was about the same as last year,” he said. “I’ve had a few people curious about blacksmithing.”

Fitzgerald said they added a bubble machine and extra yard games in the youth activity area. The bubbles were abundant as wind carried them off and kids engaged in face painting, water games, Chalk Walk, learning about farm equipment and balloon animals from Tulip and Friends.

Olaf Espinosa, 14, with the Marine Cadets of Iowa, mans the Center Street and Main Street intersection during Bee Ridiculous. His duty was to prevent people from driving through the area.

“The bubble bins were the most popular with every kid, regardless of age,” she said.

Mosaic Church manned the booth providing face painting. Ellen Hofman said they were there for three hours, and she alone painted the faces of at least 50 children. Many of them requested Spiderman designs.

“It’s been a little slower this year, but we’ve done plenty of kids,” she said. “We have been grateful for the breeze.”

The youth also enjoyed the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, which was only present for the morning hours. Fitzgerald said they had to leave early for the annual Draws for Paws fundraiser.

Near the Bee Ridiculous activity area and the bubbles, saxophone musicians Ethen Santana, 18 and Alyssa Smith, 16, performed jazz music in front of the Tremont. While Santana graduated from Marshalltown High School this past year, they both were members of the high school band. It was the first time the duo played during Bee Ridiculous.

Ellen Hofman with Mosaic Church shows a little girl her new face painting job during Bee Ridiculous. Hofman said most of the children requested a Spiderman design.

“We asked the owner of the Tremont if we could play and he said yes,” Santana said.

Their first time at Bee Ridiculous resulted in a lot of people coming up to them and giving compliments.

“We’ve been getting lots of tips,” he said. “It’s nice to play in front of people. I just enjoy playing and I would do it for free.”

Also new to Bee Ridiculous this year was the presence of the Marine Cadets of Iowa. Jacob Johnson, 23, one of the adult staff supervising the cadets, said they were there to help out.

“We are manning the roads and keeping people from driving through,” he said. “We set up the barricade and will tear them down. We also set up tables, trash cans and will fill in wherever they need us.”

Phil Cox with Heritage Forge works on a piece of metal at his booth in the vendor area of Bee Ridiculous Days. His booth and work attracted some people curious in blacksmithing.

Some new food vendors were Scigs Snack Shack and an Amish food truck, Fitzgerald said.

“Everyone else was a repeat, who are all great because we love our repeats,” she said.

Fitzgerald was certainly tired after it ended, but was already thinking about next year’s Bee Ridiculous.

“I hope it grows and expands to a bigger, better event, bringing in extra things,” she said. “I would love to see more people in the stores and restaurants and enjoying the activities. I would love to see more activities, the food truck and vendor areas grow and see more expansion on Main Street.”

Fitzgerald thanked the sponsors for the event and her promotions team.

Thousands of bubbles fly above kids’ heads during the annual Bee Ridiculous Days on Main Street on Saturday. The bubble machines were new additions to this year’s event.

“Everyone donated their time and energy,” she said. “A lot of the stuff we got for free from the sponsors, and I literally could not have done this without my team.”

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Contact Lana Bradstream

at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.