The audience jumped to its feet and applauded as Holly Wood, her voice strong and clear, reached the final high note of "God Bless America."

The 44-year-old Lancaster resident leaned back and exhaled before finishing the song with a low, throaty "God bless."

All smiles, Lancaster Talent Fest emcee Chris White encouraged the crowd to make some noise in response to the "incredible singing."

"I swear, if I could sing like that, there'd be posters of me all over the city, saying no more singing by this man because I'd be doing it all the time," he said.

The event was part of Bright Side Summer Fest sponsored by the Bright Side Opportunities Center. The festival expanded to two days this year, adding Friday evening activities and Saturday's talent show.

Complete with food, local vendors, community organization representatives and performers, the Bright Side Baptist Church parking lot, as well as the adjoining street and a vacant lot, were filled with people of all ages.

Elijah Christian, 2, squirmed in his seat before racing off to pet a nearby toy poodle. His mother, Tia, heard about the event from relatives and figured it would be a great way to spend the afternoon.

Nearby, under a white canopy, the talent show was under way. Elaine Jones entertained her grandson Marcus, who was comfortable in a stroller, while she waited for her 17-year-old granddaughter, Quenise, to take the stage with her rendition of "Bound to You."

"It brings a lot of people together," Jones said, of the festival on Hershey Avenue between Wabank and Hager streets.

The festival offers a family-friendly venue for community members to get to know each other — at least, that's what event coordinator Stacy Kelley had in mind while planning the event.

"People see this big building, but they don't know what it is," Kelley said of the Opportunities Center. "As long as they're having a good time, I'm happy."

Vendors also displayed their wares for neighbors, who looked and shopped. Large earrings and patterned purses hung underneath small canopies, and tie-dyed pants and tunics blew in the occasional hot afternoon breeze.

Ephrata resident Honey Kelsey, wearing a headband and flowing gold dress, stood behind a table of crafts that included artificial floral arrangements. Between bites of homemade barbecued chicken, Kelsey praised the festival.

"It's fun," she said. "I do this once a year because I enjoy it, and I love the people.

"Oh, and I'm performing in the talent show later today," she said of the outfit she picked to sing "Drown in My Tears."

Friend and stand assistant Rita Abate shook her head and laughed.

"That woman never stops running," Abate said. "She's in a band, she teaches music. She does it all."

Later, singer Holly Wood accepted the first-place crown in the adult talent division while blowing the crowd a kiss. She couldn't believe she won.

"I just felt this surge inside of me," she said, smiling. "I got this chill right here," pointing to her right wrist, "and it went the whole way through my body."

Taking third-place in the adult division was Hip Hop Clowns, young men who donned single white gloves and flipped their way across the stage with dance moves and synchronzied routines. Oliver Jordan and Jonathan Autry, both 18, have performed together since they were 11.

Other winners included 11-year-old Danielle Taylor, who performed Jessie J's "Price Tag," and 17-year-old Rachel Krothe, who sang Bruno Mars' "Count on Me" with her older brother, Benjy.

"This is just so much fun," said Taylor, who had audience members laughing and cheering to her head-bobbing dance moves. "I love it, so I just keep on doing it."

Contact Sunday News staff writer Brittany Horn at bhorn@lnpnews.com.