An arts festival that has been operating in St. Joseph for 26 years is coming to an end.
The Allied Arts Council announced Friday that it is suspending the Trails West! Festival.
The St. Joseph News-Press reports the decision was made because of changes in how people consume their art and an increasing number of outdoor arts experiences.
The council's executive director, Teresa Fankhauser, said increasing costs of performers and infrastructure was another factor.
The three-day festival, held annually since 1993, was the largest arts festival in northwest Missouri. More than 45,000 attended at the festival's peak but attendance has been dropping in recent years.
Fankhauser says the numbers were down "a lot" this year.
