Sunny skies and warm weather were a treat for all who strolled down Main Street Saturday for the first art walk of the year.

Thirty-two locations throughout Downtown New Iberia, including local businesses, the Sliman Theater and Bouligny Plaza, featured handmade jewelry, cabinet refinishing, paintings, framed photographs, jazz musicians and refreshments.

Jane Braud, director of the city’s Planning and Zoning Department and the Main Street Program, said about 10 new artists participated in the Springtime Downtown Art Walk Saturday. The bi-annual art walk is a free public event that is sponsored by the New Iberia Arts & Cultural Commission and the New Iberia Main Street Program.

The art walk began at Shadows-on-the-Teche and continued along Main Street to the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany then on to A&E Gallery on the corner of St. Peter Street and Railroad Avenue.

John Crittenden, a freshman at Delcambre High School, had a table set up in front of Accentrics on Main Street where he sold handmade paracord bracelets. The bracelets are considered survival bracelets, he said, because the string inside the parashute cord can withstand 500 pounds of pressure and can be used for almost anything.

Crittenden, 15, said he got the idea for making the bracelets after experimenting with gimp string. He said he learned different types of braids with the gimp string and decided to implement it with the parachute cord.

Crittenden said he has been making the bracelets for a little more than two years and frequently sells them at the Shadows-on-the-Teche crafts fairs.

Sean Rutherford, a second-time New Iberia art walk artist, displayed his handmade jewelry across from Bouligny Plaza. A majority of his jewelry is made from gemstones, he said, because he has been studying them for several years.

“I make things because I want people to look pretty. Everything is one-of-a-kind and I never make the same thing twice,” he said.

Braud said the event had a great turnout in both artists and admirers, which she said she thinks correlates to the mild temperatures and clear skies Saturday afternoon.

“Typically people start coming out at around 5 o’clock, even though the art walk started at 4, and I’ve been here since 2, and I’ve seen people starting to come out at 3:30,” she said. “That was a good indicator that it was going to have a really good attendance.”

Two galleries, Henton House and NILA, opened to the public, which Braud said she thinks attracted a few more art walk visitors. She said A&E Gallery, the final stop of the art walk, housed 20 artists.

“We’re just so excited to have so many artists and so many new artists, and even musicians,” she said.

“I’m just thrilled to death. We have so much talent in New Iberia and it’s just amazing to me the talent that comes out here. People are willing to participate and just enjoy what the city has to offer.”