Hundreds of visitors filled Gay Street on Sunday, Sept. 20, for the 45th annual West Chester Restaurant and Food Truck Festival despite drizzle and the threat of storms.

The festival, hosted by West Chester Parks & Recreation, ran from noon to 5:30 p.m. with dozens of restaurants and food trucks, local artisan vendors, information booths and live bands on three stages. A beer and wine garden on N. Church Street rounded out the offerings.

Early crowds were strong. Residents turned out in force at the noon opening to grab first bites from local and visiting vendors, the West Chester Chronicle reported.

Then the Eagles kicked off.

Around 1 p.m., the street thinned as festivalgoers migrated to nearby bars to watch the game. Bierhaul Townhouse, which had a food tent on Gay Street next to the Post Office, had pitched the dual appeal days earlier on Instagram, advertising Eagles viewing along with $10 wings and $1 off per Eagles touchdown.

No official attendance count has been released. The next downtown food event is the West Chester Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, Oct. 11.