Tribune Lincoln artist Paul Zanderholm draws a caricature of a patient Madison Hill while other subjects wait their turn Sunday at Brickyard Park. Each year the Cottonwood Prairie Festival offers a three-day feast for the senses. There are bronze sculptures so smooth and lifelike they match a picture already in memory. Aromas waft from the food area making mouths water for gyros, funnel cakes and lemonade all at the same time.
Sounds intermingle with each step.
There is laughter and flute notes, concerts and chain saws. A unique atmosphere is part of the reason the Cottonwood Prairie Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary much as its first, with thousands of people and three successful days honoring fine arts, crafts, food and entertainment. About 17,000 people turned out for the annual festival at Brickyard Park, D Street and Woodland Avenue. The attendance estimate is nearly identical to last year. Other attendance measures were up, however.