For those tired of fighting the crowds at the 38th Annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College, there was a smaller, less-crowded alternative in nearby Boalsburg this weekend.

The 12th annual People's Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts and Crafts provided room to roam in a relaxed family atmosphere.

"It's much more open. Not as crowded as State College," State College resident Meghan Gillen said.

Many artists said they prefer the Boalsburg festival because it is a less hectic, more profitable festival.

"I'm having one of my best shows of the year here," said artist Robert Sverduk of Lake Ariel. "I hope I get invited back next year."

The festival, on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Military Museum, offered a variety of things to see and do, with an emphasis on work from local artists and craftsmen.

Demonstrations included broom making, woodcarving and making coat racks at an iron works display.

The festival was started in 1993 by Nancy and George Marion as an alternative for local artists.

"The Central Pennsylvania Arts Festival was for years and years mostly for artists from central Pennsylvania," Nancy Marion said. "As the Arts Festival popularity grew, fewer and fewer local artists were being invited. We started [the Boalsburg festival] with 50 booths and are up to 168. We're not going to expand it anymore."

Marion said 80,000 people were expected to visit the Boalsburg festival each day. The booths were set up in a horseshoe shape on a field, leaving the center open for two music stages for both live music and a local radio station. The festival included a children's area, where a long line of antsy children waited to blow off some steam on the inflatable trampoline. Pittsburgh resident Steve Kaufman said he preferred the Boalsburg festival to the festival in State College.

"The prices are better too," he said.

Marion Jones, a Boalsburg native, said she enjoyed the festival.

"It's like a country walk here," she said.