Walks, talks and plenty of great weather were the highlights of the 17th Dungeness River Festival on Sept. 23-24 at the Railroad Bridge Park.

Powell Jones, executive director of the Dungeness River Audubon Center, said the festival went great and they saw about 2,500 people attend.

“I think the weather for years has been iffy but this year was great,” he said. “We had a few more exhibitors and an overall pretty positive outcome.”

As is tradition, the event promotes the Olympic Peninsula’s natural and cultural resources through hands-on exhibits and various activities. It also featured live music, food and the Olympic Driftwood Sculptors’ annual show on Saturday-Sunday in the River Center.

Jones said he and other organizers will discuss changes for next year with the possibility for more exhibitors and making the festival a one-day event.

He said about 70 percent of the attendance comes on Friday and on Saturday it competes with other area events, which leads to lower numbers.

“I’d like to see it go into the evening on Friday with music in the evening with food and not compete on Saturday,” Jones said.

“We (event organizers) want to support other event as much possible and have them support us, too.”

For more information on the festival or river center, visit www.DungenessRiverCenter.org or call 681-4076.