MANSFIELD — The annual ArtiStreet summer art carnival drew spectators from beyond Ohio’s borders on Saturday afternoon.

Pam Weesner, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and her friend, Deb Prough, of Port Clinton, were staying at the Wish Maker House in Belleville this weekend and made a point to see the show.

“We made the reservation for this, for the art fair,” said Weesner. “It just sounded interesting.”

ArtiStreet has been held in downtown Mansfield for three years. The arts festival features local artists, musicians and more. Artists line the streets in the Carrousel District to sell their art and often offer demonstrations, too.

Drawings, paintings, pottery, quilts and drew the audience. All items had to be handcrafted, no mass productions allowed.

“It’s to promote the local art scene,” said Kathy Goodwin from Element of Art and the Art Sector of Richland County Development Group.

One of the artists was Shelby native Martha Fort. She was at the carnival painting images from a recent trip to South Padre Island.

“I was out on the beach at sunrise every day it wasn’t raining,” she said.

She captured photos and videos from January to mid-March. Back home she’s using those visuals to recreate the scenes in her paintings.

Fort began taking art classes around age 5 when her parents realized her talent. She went on to study painting at Bowling Green State University and worked as a graphic designer for years.

Later she painted murals for Carousel Works Inc. Her work can be seen at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and is displayed in different countries around the world.

Down the street, Bonnie Smith, of The Plant Lady Interior & Exterior Plants, was making wall art including plants. Recent Lexington graduate Jakob Goettel was selling his pottery. Goettel will further his studies at the Columbus College of Art & Design this fall.

Children kept busy with sidewalk chalk outside the Richland Carrousel Park, and also seemed to enjoy building their own action figures with Lou Graziani, a local comic book artist.

In previous years, the festival has drawn crowds of 500 to 1,000 people. But this year, the weather offered a better backdrop and that number figured to be eclipsed.

But the fun began Friday, June 5 at Element of Art, 96 North Main St., where a gallery was open from 5 to 8 p.m. Artists who participated in the art festival could submit their work for a display.

The pieces will remain on display until the end of June.

“It promotes their art a little longer,” Goodwin said.

Additionally, artists and visitors alike were invited to add a flower to a new downtown mural.

Downtown Mansfield’s newest mural, “Floral Bloom Artwork” features a colorful skyline adorned with all kinds of flowers. It is located along Main Street, near Fifth Street.

Artists began adding flowers on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. It will be finished by the end of the Artistreet Carnival.

The event is sponsored by Charles P. Hahn of the Cleveland Financial Group.

“He’s passionate about downtown,” said Goodwin. “And this is another way to bring people downtown.”