Sales at the San Luis Obispo Saturday Farmers Market during its 35th anniversary celebration the last three weeks in August were up 16 percent to 19 percent over the year-earlier period. And on Aug. 31, they hit a record — $27,836 in sales, up 19 percent from $23,375 on the same Saturday in 2012, market officials said.

The vast majority of the money spent Aug. 31 was on farm produce, according to market manager Peter Jankay, with 41 farmers raising a combined $24,738. The other $3,098 was from food vendors.

The weekly market is also attracting more people. So far this year, more than 2,000 people on average have attended market days, which are Saturdays from 8 to 10:45 a.m. at the Cost Plus World Market and Embassy Suites parking lots. That compares with about 1,500 people on average who attended each market last year.

In a news release, Jankay noted that “annual sales at this market have increased dramatically during the last seven years.” He attributed the recent sales and attendance upswing to special anniversary celebration events, as well as a related advertising campaign.