FLINT, MI -- All along, Back to the Bricks organizers have been predicting that this year would be the biggest yet.

They were right.

After a week of movies, cruising and car shows, Back to the Bricks Chair Al Hatch said public safety officials estimated a half-million people attended Bricks events.

"There's a helluva lot of people down here," Hatch said Saturday afternoon during the downtown Flint car show, the main event that caps a week-long car spectacular. "It's jammed right up now."

The car show stretched along more than 25 blocks in downtown Flint. Although side streets were less full and crowd estimates are hard to substantiate, the show was clearly huge.

The crowds stretched along Saginaw Street from Fifth Street to Fifth Avenue -- a block longer in each direction than last year. Side streets also were closed between Beach and Harrison streets.

"The weather is beautiful. It's really bringing out the people," Hatch said.

Cruisers were out as early as 2:30 a.m. Saturday waiting in line for a chance at a spot on the bricks.

"It's worth it," said Jackie Mirasolo of Holly, under a blanket in a convertible in sub 50-degree temps just before 6 a.m., when officials started letting cars take a spot on the bricks. "If you want a spot on the main street you have to get up early in the morning for that."

Corvette Reunion Car Show at 2012 Back to the Bricks 5 Gallery: Corvette Reunion Car Show at 2012 Back to the Bricks

Cruisers came from out of state, even out of the country, for the show.

This year, the event showcased the first of eight planned statues honoring Flint's automotive history.

The $40,000 bronze

in the newly constructed garden along Saginaw Street between Kearsley and First streets. Mayor Dayne Walling called it "the new iconic location in downtown Flint."

Saturday is the culmination of a week of Back to the Bricks events, which started Tuesday with a drive-in movie, followed by two nights of cruising before the Friday night car show.

And, for the most part, the events went off without a hitch as of Saturday afternoon.

.

A few small skirmishes broke out during the week but police this year had extra foot patrols and a larger presence and there were no major incidents despite the large crowds, said Burton Police Chief Thomas Osterholzer, who is the spokesperson for the joint task force policing Back to the Bricks.

"The success is due to a lot of hard work from a lot of folks, all of the jurisdictions working together." Osterholzer said. "The guys out on the street have been all over it taking care of business."

For Saturday's big car show, the streets were lined with hotrods and muscle cars,

and customs.

And there were some

including the boat owned by Charles Reiner, 57, of Frasier (actually a 1962 Amphicar), Flint resident Tina Wise's 1985 Cadillac hearse and Fenton woman Cheyenne Nox's

.

"I love it. It's a good time, an outstanding time," said Chuck Valentine, 61, of Swartz Creek. He had his 1977 Corvette on display and said he was out there for, "just the cars. I love the cars and the hot dogs. ...

Back to the Bricks Wacky Cars 24 Gallery: Back to the Bricks Wacky Cars

"Plus, it's just nice to get to downtown Flint. We can enjoy it like when we were younger."

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Scott

Atkinson is can be reached

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