It was fun while it lasted.

For the second time in three years the threat of severe weather and heavy rain Sunday afternoon cut short the annual Art in the Park event.

“They came around about 2 o’clock and told us there was severe weather in the area and some people started packing up,” said Bob Zerwekh, an artist and member of the Lawrence Arts Guild. The guild, which organizes the event, had planned for it to last until 6 p.m.

Earlier in the day, throngs of people flocked to South Park to stroll and browse among the works on display by 87 artists.

Some people were shopping for Mother’s Day gifts. One of them was Nancy Parr, who was going to help her children, Annie, 15, and Ellie, 9, find something for their grandmother.

“It’s perfect timing to have this near Mother’s Day,” Nancy Parr said. “You can always find something different.”

Zoe McCleary, Lawrence, also was looking for a Mother’s Day gift.

“I usually get wood bowls for Mom,” she said.

Pat Kells, of Lawrence, said she usually buys jewelry.

John Kihm, 6, Lawrence, looks for his reflection in a piece of glass during Art in the Park, sponsored by the Lawrence Art Guild. The hand-blown glass art by Lyn Harp, Wichita, was displayed Sunday in South Park.

“You can usually count on coming away from here with one or two things,” Kells said.

On the other side of a cash box was artist Karla Nathan. She obtains antique chairs, tables and cabinets and spruces them up with art.

“I fix them up and make them pretty again and then give them new homes,” Nathan said of her antiques, which she sells at My Father’s Daughter, 844 Mass. and at the Mission Road Antiques Mall in Johnson County.

Also drawing interest from browsers were yard art and gallery items from Back to the Garden, 619 N. Second St., operated by Kathryn Schartz. Many of her items were made of thin metal, shaped into wind chimes, clocks, flowers and sundials.

Schartz said her husband, Kelvin Schartz, makes most of the items.

Frances Gorman and Kris Graves, both of Lawrence, decided to eat before checking out the artwork.

“We just come here to look around,” Gorman said. “This is a good little community festival.”