It's hard to argue when the days are as perfect as the last few have been. Warm sunshine makes the days sparkle with a sharp light. The crackling cold that descends at evening merely brings forth a riot of color in deciduous trees and puts the pungent smell of woodsmoke into the air.

Hundreds of visitors came to town last weekend to partake of the pleasures of autumn in Sisters. Many strolled the streets, enjoying the offerings of the annual Harvest Faire.

This year's event was larger than ever, with some 300 crafters booths stationed on Main Avenue and Elm Street as well as the traditional Hood Avenue location.

According to Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce board member Gary Miller, the expansion was a success from the point of view of shoppers and a qualified success according to vendors.

"It seems like we kind of got a mixed bag of comments about the new layout," Miller said.

It seems that some vendors didn't like being moved from tried-and-true locations. Others found the expansion worthwhile, especially since uncrowded shoppers spent more time lingering at booths.

Visitors certainly seemed to enjoy the more relaxed, expansive feeling of the festival, given the extra space to roam.

Miller estimates that attendance was up perhaps 30 percent this year to match the 30 percent increase in vendor spaces.

"I think we really did draw more people into town for it," Miller said.

An informal survey of visitors indicated that many drove all the way over from the Portland/Vancouver area.