After a long lashing by storms, Hampdenfest thrived on sun Saturday, with thousands of people turning out.

"Hurricanes are good for Hampdenfest," said co-organizer Charlotte Hays-Murray, who owns Charlotte Elliott, a rare books and antiques store on The Avenue. She did not have a tally yet of how many people attended.

But there were also problems with traffic control and late-arriving equipment from the Baltimore City government, according to Genny Dill, Hampden Community Council secretary.

Eight of the 18 tents promised by the city didn't arrive until noon, and organizers had to place folding tables across side streets to stop cars from coming to The Avenue because the city didn't close off the streets, Dill said.