IVA — More than 4,000 people turned out for family fun Saturday at the 16th annual Iva Depot Day Heritage Celebration.

The event at the Iva Ballfield on S.C. 81 South involved more than 80 vendors of arts, crafts and food. The celebration was sponsored by the city of Iva and Reviva, a nonprofit group committed to improving Iva.

Jackie Sorensen, an organizer of the event, said she was pleased with the turnout Saturday. This year’s festival included an antique car show and moon bounces for children.

“The purpose of this is to bring the community closer and have fun and fellowship,” Sorensen said.

Anderson County also sponsored a trolley that took residents through 15 miles worth of historic sites near Iva, such as the Jackson Mill, the Thomason-Bowie Foundation and the Generostee Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Kim Bannister, 39, of Iva said she enjoyed talking to people at the event and looking at the vendor booths.

“It brings the community together,” Bannister said of the festival. “It is a good environment.”

Iva Mayor Bobby Gentry said it was great to see a good crowd turn out for the event.

“It is more activities for the town to bring in tourism for local businesses,” he said.

Artist Oscar Velasquez, who is nationally known, displayed some of his artwork during Depot Day this year and said he thinks he got a great response from Iva-area residents. Last week Velasquez repainted a mural he created on the side of Brown’s 5 & 10 Variety Store in Iva and invited school children to come watch him work.

Tracy Hughes, 40 of Lowndesville, said Depot Day was important because it shows the community cares about the town of Iva. She said her daughters Charlene, 18, and Angel Dockins, 14, enjoyed the event Saturday.

Hughes said it was great to talk to people she had not seen in a while.

“I wanted to show a little bit of community pride,” she said.