The Belleville Intelligencer estimated attendance of 8,000 people.

City Manager Edwards estimated attendance at the "noisily lavish extravaganza" at close to two hundred thousand, by far the largest crowd in festival history.

Independent sources estimated attendance at 200,000 people, with 80,000 spending the night on Saturday.

The police estimated attendance at the rally and march through downtown at about 200 people; organizers said it was twice that size.

Yesterday, the police estimated attendance at 38,000, but organizers once again insisted that the crowd was far larger.

Emily J. Sano, the director, estimates attendance at 225,000 to 250,000 a year and said, "I don't know how it compares with the past."

Mr. Burke declined to estimate attendance, saying only that a large crowd was expected.

Although the staff estimated attendance at about 2,400, the hall seemed almost filled to its capacity, 2,800.

United Gospel Tabernacles does not keep church rolls, but estimated attendance as of their 2006 business meeting in June, was over 2,000,000 worldwide.

Following the event, local media estimated attendance at 40,000.