On a good night in seasons past, Nathan Bentley's Christmas light display would draw about 5,000 visitors.
But in Bentleyville's first year at Bayfront Festival Park, the light show is poised to blow those numbers away.
More than 32,000 people attended the Bentleyville Festival of Lights Friday through Sunday, the city of Duluth said Monday.
Attendance peaked at 10,000 on Friday and 16,000 on Saturday, then fell to 6,000 on Sunday.
That averages out to about 10,600 visitors a day and at that pace would equal more than 300,000 visitors by the time the festival ends on Jan. 2. Bentley said he expects attendance to slow yet still believes about 200,000 will visit Bentleyville.
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Bentley, who previously operated his show at his rural home near Cloquet, said attendance is being counted so promoters of possible future Bentleyvilles will know how many visitors to expect, as well as to prepare for staffing and supplies.
Bentley said there have been no problems at the event so far. While supplies of coffee, hot chocolate and cookies went fast, he said there should be enough to last until Jan. 2.
