MADISON, Wis. -- Great weather brought out a big crowd for Saturday's opening of Art Fair on the Square, but early indications were that many attendees left their wallets at home.

For more than two decades, Stoughton residents Jim and Dianne Oles have taken in the annual art fair, but the Oles said that this year they have different goals.

"We got a budget, and I know what I can spend today," said Dianne Oles.

The Oles and many others packed into the Capitol Square on Saturday are looking more and buying less.

Artists like Rick Stone have noticed the trend. He said people are getting smarter about what they're buying.

"I think what people are doing, they're doing wiser buying," said Stone. "I would say maybe 30 percent of the people are holding back a little bit. But I think for the most part, people are doing what they normally do. They look at the bigger pieces as more of an investment."

For the first time in years, organizers said there have been no booth cancellations.

In past years, artists might cancel for various reasons, forfeiting their booth purchase.

It seems like artists now aren't willing to forfeit any money for any reason.

"They're struggling. They're having a really hard time this year," said Art Fair on the Square organizer Katie Symansky-Hunter. "In the past they've sold out at certain shows, and haven't been able to make it to other shows. And I've talked to some artists whose income has been cut in half this year."

Organizers said that the Art Fair on the Square has typically been one of their vendors' bright spots of the year.

Despite lowered expectations, organizers still said they needed to wait until the close of the show to accurately see how sales compared to previous years.

The Art Fair on the Square continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Capitol Square.