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Over 100K attend Bumbershoot, drawing biggest crowd in years

SEATTLE — Bumbershoot wraps up Monday with another day full of music and arts at Seattle Center.  Organizers for the festival say it’s the biggest crowds in years, expected to top more than 100,000.

While most paid the $62 for a ticket, some people tried to jump the system.

On Sunday, a 17-year-old boy was taken to the hospital after police found him at Memorial Stadium.  Police said he broke his ankle jumping into the stadium trying to sneak into the festival.

And a KIRO 7 viewer sent a picture of another woman who he said climbed a tree to get onto a roof so she could jump past the gates.  She was stuck on the roof until firefighters helped her down.

“Every once in a while you see some ambitious people,” said Aubrey Bergauer, Senior Director Community Engagement.

Bumbershoot is the only event at Seattle Center that fences off the grounds completely.  Bergauer said the fencing and the security system does just fine keeping out people who don’t pay.

As of Monday, attendance was on pace to be a few thousand more than recent years.  Some people complained about the $62 tickets on the KIRO 7 facebook page.  Organizers say the high attendance is proof the price point is right.

“The numbers do speak for themselves,” said Bergauer.  “We do our best to keep (prices) as low as we can, but do our best to provide a very strong lineup. Last year was a good year for us and 2013 is a continuation of that. We've had larger numbers.”

Kate Roper and her friends were the first in line Monday morning.  She came down from Vancouver, B.C. and says the price is worth it.

“We've seen some of these people in a comedy club and for the price it's worth it to see 8 in three days,” said Roper.

Headlining acts for Monday include MGMT and BASSNECTAR.  The 2014 lineup is already in the works.

Tickets for Bumbershoot 2014 go on sale in October and the lineup is expected to be announced in May.