Tabitha Johnston/Chronicle Amanda the Fairy, from Creative Procrastinations and Whimsical Necessities, points out the shop’s pop-up fairy festival to rising kindergartener Kyra Lecuona Heilman during the annual Street Fest 2018 on June 23.

Street Fest 2018 was a hit, drawing hundreds of visitors to West German Street’s lineup of 70 artisans and vendors June 23.

Donations to and proceeds from the free event were split between the Shepherdstown Library and the Potomac Valley Audubon Society.

“This feels like a very natural place to have a street festival,” said Sarah Wanger-Davis, of Chicago, who said she appreciated the festival had no admission fee, one of the things that made it stand out from her home city. “It’s a lot more friendly than Chicago.”

Wanger-Davis, who came to Shepherdstown to see her father for Father’s Day, was walking the streets with her sister, nephew, mother and her mother’s 6-month-old labradoodle, Bogie.

Wanger Davis’ mother, Linda, said the festival offers a unique opportunity to help Shepherdstown thrive. She was carrying her first purchase of the day – a selection of cards from Kimberly Lineberg Art.

Tabitha Johnston/Chronicle Lois Weaver, of Washington, D.C., checks out Kimberly Lineberg Art’s booth. Weaver drove up to support her friends, Lee and Ralph Doty, who had a booth at Street Fest.

“I like to support the community,” said Linda, who is from Shepherdstown. “You see a lot of things you normally wouldn’t see here, including a lot of handmade products, and I like that the festival benefits local organizations.”

Kimberly Lineberg said this was her first year as a vendor at Street Fest, but her second time attending. Lineberg, who sells her botanical- and architectural-themed cards and paintings on Etsy, already works full-time as an accountant but hopes to do more local and regional festivals in the future.

“I’ve painted for years, but two years ago I decided to pursue it,” said Lineberg, who is from Martinsburg. “Walking down the sidewalk, you see everyday plants and things that grab your attention. When you turn it into a painting, it takes on a different meaning and different light.”

Some visitors roamed the streets, while others visited the Beer Garden area along King Street, where many of the food and alcoholic beverage vendors had their booths set up across from the main stage. Five musical groups – Mindy Miller & the Chrome Tears; Mountain Ride; The Woodshedders; The Fritz; and Asbury United Methodist Church’s Ambassadors of Christ, featuring Shepherd University music student Lucia Valentine – performed on the main stage. Four additional groups performed on the Library Stage: Old Bones & the Bear, Todd Coyle & Don Oesher, Herb & Hanson and Chelsea McBee.

Daniel Kessler, of Shepherdstown said he bought a Hanukkah gift for his mother-in-law and tie-dye socks as part of a graduation gift for his exchange student from Ecuador.

Tabitha Johnston/Chronicle Fifth-grader Max Romine pets Bogie, a six-month-old labradoodle, Saturday afternoon.

“I’m surprised by the quality of the vendors,” said Kessler. “They’re better than I see at most festivals.”