The mood in downtown Salt Lake City Sunday night was bittersweet.
As the 2002 Winter Games came to a close across town at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium, downtown visitors soaked up every last Olympic moment.
"We came because we didn't want it to end," said Colette Perry of Mapleton in Utah County.
Perry and her family examined the Olympic Museum inside the City-County Building, while cheers rang out from the Washington Square crowd watching the closing ceremonies on a giant television screen. It was then Perry realized Salt Lake was the museum's newest addition.
Elsewhere in the city, crowds were at their lowest in two weeks. Downtown parking prices dropped to $3 in some spots, compared to up to the $15 to $20 that had become the norm.
Refreshment vendors dropped their prices in a last-ditch effort to liquidate inventory. One downtown stand was selling everything at $1, from hot chocolate to hot dogs.
Jeffrey Nye estimates up to 30,000 people passed by his stand on 200 South between West Temple and 200 West each night. On Sunday, the crowds were much smaller.
Jeff Fleming, a Salt Lake resident who runs a pin-trading booth at the Olympic Collectors Fair, manned his booth right up to the start of the closing ceremonies.
Of the 30 to 40 pin traders who worked out of the Walker Building, where the fair was located, four remained.
The small crowd of hopeful pin traders were grateful for Fleming's endurance. But not even their begging could persuade Fleming to keep the booth open once the ceremonies started. "I would at least like to see something at the Olympics," Fleming said.
Last-minute shoppers also found no respite at the two Roots stores in The Gateway. Lines of up to two hours were common, as many people thought it was their last chance to buy the wildly popular Olympic gear.
After about 50 minutes, Susan Maass Thomas neared the door and was ready to get her hands on a few of the much- sought-after Team USA berets.
The Garland, Texas, native is in town to work at Bank of America branches in Olympic venues. "Everyone's been calling us from home, saying 'Bring us some hats,' " she said.
Others didn't let a cold night stand in their way of capturing the final few moments of Olympic memories.
A crowd of about 50 people gathered at the Olympic Fountain in The Gateway, running through the water.
The mood was light and playful as adults, teenagers and children pushed and pulled their friends into the water.
While most of the downtown Olympic activities continued, albeit on a smaller scale, there were a few notable absences Sunday night.
Ticket scalpers no longer clogged street corners, lights from Bud World no longer illuminated the sky and music from Olympic Square no longer echoed among the buildings.
The final ceremonies at Olympic Medals Plaza took place Sunday afternoon, and Olympic Square permanently closed its gates at 6 p.m.
The darkness and quiet seemed almost painful for many of the stragglers, all of whom seemed to be hoping the Games would last for at least another week.
"We wish it were a little longer," said Ginger Gin, before rushing to the U.'s Research Park to watch the fireworks.
E-MAIL: awelling@desnews.com ; joliver@desnews.com