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Downtown Tucson dressed in its Sunday best and danced up a ton of fun for folks who flocked to the Family Arts Festival.

Tens of thousands of them, from the look of the place, made it to the heart of our desert city, the site of a daylong party on Sunday that moved from the beautiful pink courthouse through color-splashed La Placita Village all the way to the sprawling Tucson Convention Center.

Everywhere you looked, a child was dancing, a doggy was trotting beside its family and just about everyone was eating something delicious as the crowd strolled in the sun and soaked up the music, dance and art of our eclectic part of the world.

"We wanted to do something that was fun and family-oriented, and it's such a beautiful day — we wanted to be outside, so this festival has it all," said Kevin Bonine, watching the Tucson Sino Chinese Group work its graceful magic with fans and swords. He was accompanied by his wife, Angela, and their 21-month-old daughter, Molly.

"She's having a blast," he said about Molly, who danced with her stroller before toddling over to hug a passing basset hound.

Being able to sample the festival's huge array of music and singing is what brought the Bonines down from their East Side home,, Kevin Bonine said. "Oh, and I had a great burro and a major root beer float," he said adding:

"And I want to say, as part of the Downtown revitalization, this is what really brings people here. It's not convenient for us, but it's fantastic down here. I'd really like to see more events like this, so more people could see how beautiful Downtown really is."

Known officially as the Glassman Foundation Family Art Festival, the annual event was launched in 2000 as a free winter celebration. Sponsored in part by the Arizona Daily Star, the festival attracts more than 25,000 people each year.

Seven stages scattered throughout Downtown showcased musical performances, while booths and tents offered cultural and artistic demonstrations as well as information about Tucson's sister cities and non-profit groups.

After the Brazilian percussion group Batucaxé led a parade spanning the festival site to open the event, people moved from performance to performance, making maximum use of the food offerings along the way.

"I've been coming to this festival since 2000 — I don't miss it," said Bill Segura, who couldn't help moving to the rhythm with his friend Kay Gerlach to the sounds of Mexico Mestizo, a folklorico group from Ciudad Obregon that drew one of the largest crowds to the stage in El Presidio Park.

"We were over there dancing the polka before," he said, gesturing toward the Convention Center. "We're dance fiends."

As the lively music filled the grassy park, he asked, "Would you excuse us while we dance?"

Watch a video and slide show from the festival and upload your photos from the event at go.azstarnet.com/starnetblog.