Staff photo by Fritz Busch Jordan Fox, left, of Virginia Beach, Va. dances to electronic music with other children and DJ Kyle Marti on the turf at Crazy Days in downtown New Ulm Saturday.

NEW ULM — Several hundred people gathered downtown on Minnesota Street under the Rush Rooftop Restaurant up to 30 minutes before 1,000 ping pong balls were dropped to them from the roof.

Ping pong balls were gathered by children and adults. The balls had labeled discounts, chances to win New Ulm Area Chamber Dollars and were redeemed for free gifts at participating New Ulm businesses.

On the turf between Center and 1st Street North Saturday morning, children danced to electronic music in front of guest DJ Kyle Marti.

Downtown businesses were full of shoppers Saturday.

Gallery 512 Boutique Stylist Avary Roiger said about 50 shoppers redeemed ping pong balls for free gifts at the store.

New Ulm Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Sarah Warmka bought a number of items at Gallery 512 Saturday.

“We had so many people in town shopping. People from New Ulm, the area and farther away. A Twin Cities tour bus with 49 people stopped at the Chamber office Saturday morning.

B & L Bar owner Rick Kamm said business was brisk all weekend.

“It was a wonderful event. It brought a lot of people downtown. We had 750 to 800 people downtown Friday night for the Smiley Wiltscheck tribute. There were 300 to 400 people on the turf Saturday night for country music by the Tanner Stark Band,” Kamm said.

Gypsy Girl Consignment Boutique owner Amy Midtbruget said business was brisk.

“We had lots of people in from New Ulm, the area and out of the area. It’s been a great turnout. We’ve been open since 8 a.m. Saturday. It’s great to have all these events downtown.

Inspired gift shop and boutique owner Christina Schwab said the store opened for Crazy Days Thursday night, all day Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

“I’m just very pleased with all the people around. It’s a fun time for everybody. Everybody looks forward to this,” said Schwab.

A Christmas Haus employee Erica Kinsey said the store opened an hour earlier than usual, at 10 a.m. Friday for Crazy Days.

Marktstrasse handcrafted vendors included Country Inspired Creations by Amy Paplow of Dundee, about an hour southwest of New Ulm.

“We repurpose wood from barns, granaries, garages, hay lofts and houses. We sold a wooden pig to a pig farmer here today,” said Chris Paplow.

The business on Facebook will custom build products any of its own products or try something new for customers.

Paplow said the business received an email from the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce requesting us to come to the New Ulm Crazy Days Markstrasse event for handcrafted vendors and decided to come to New Ulm.

Terry and Kevin Allinger of New Auburn were selling goats milk skin care products said to help soften wrinkles, protect the skin from sun damage including skin cancer, lock in moisture, to help skin stay healthy during winter months.

Other Crazy Days visitors included Peggy Mason of Hadley, formerly of Fort Myers, Fla. Her daughter Tiffany Drummer of Mankato was a Marktstrasse vendor, selling handcrafted wood items and coffee mugs.

“I lived in Fort Myers for 38 years before moving back to Minnesota to be near my family. It’s fun to come to New Ulm. It’s such a neat town with a great, lively downtown,” said Mason.