Festival Hits High Note on 3rd Day : Culture: Crowds and moods are reported on the upswing. A peaceful, problem-free Labor Day program cheers organizers.

The three-day kickoff of the Los Angeles Festival ended on an upbeat note Monday as thousands of peaceful Labor Day revelers basked in vibrant musical performances by artists from the Pacific, Asia and Latin America.

The festivities at San Pedro’s Point Fermin/Angel’s Gate drew only about half the 100,000 people who were expected to show up during the three-day weekend, but organizers still declared the weekend an unqualified success. They said the spirit of the crowd and the energy of the performers should erase recent doubts about whether the 17-day gala would get off on the right foot.

“It’s wonderful, just wonderful,” said Judith Luther, the festival’s executive director as she stood at the festival’s vendor village, where audience members munched on Thai barbecued chicken sticks, Caribbean Creole and Indian delicacies.

“Everywhere is packed, people are crowding in front of all the stages and the food lines are 20 to 40 people deep,” she said. “All the groups are getting standing ovations. You couldn’t ask for better than this.”

Crowds Sunday and Monday at the park were up from Saturday’s audience, but festival organizers and police disagreed on the increase. Festival officials said between 20,000 and 25,000 people came to the park on Sunday, and about 40,000 showed up Monday. Police said about 20,000 showed up each day.

Despite the disparity in estimates, organizers were celebrating the turnout. No arrests were reported, and parking and traffic problems were minimal. Audience members took advantage of shuttle buses and remote parking lots.

“If I were basing the success of an event on how people felt, I would say this is overwhelmingly successful,” said Warren Christensen, an independent consultant for the festival. “I’ve been talking to people, and everyone is very happy and very comfortable.” The absence of massive crowds suited some members of the audience just fine. Sharon Meyer, 56, of Glendora, said, “It’s incredible weather, and there’s just the right amount of people here--I don’t feel like I’m being herded through.”

Performers ranging from the United Samoan Church Group to the Wallis and Futuna dancers from Polynesia entertained on seven stages throughout the 150-acre site from noon until dusk on Sunday and Monday.

More than 1,400 artists from 21 countries are expected to participate in 230 events at 70 venues throughout Southern California during the two-week festival, which is focusing on art and culture from the Pacific Rim.

Controversies over fund-raising and planning have plagued the festival during the past several weeks. But all that was of little importance to organizers over the weekend.

‘It’s going really well--people are buying into what we’re doing here,” said line producer Peggy Riley. “People will wander by an event and then sit, and then stay the whole hour, watching things like aboriginal dancers. Who would have thought?”

Other festival venues also drew good crowds, officials said.

More than 500 people turned out Sunday at Union Station for the unveiling of Barbara Carrasco’s mural “L.A. History--a Mexican Perspective,” said festival board chairwoman Maureen Kindel. Hundreds also attended the Moon Festival in Chinatown, a daylong program of traditional dances, music, opera and food celebrating the harvest moon.

A film festival also was doing well, officials said.

Times staff writer Phil West contributed to this story.

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