GREAT BARRINGTON — Berkshire Busk will return this summer with a limited run as downtown merchants clash over whether the festival hurts or supports their businesses.

Since launching Berkshire Busk as a way to bring people together through live performances during COVID-19, the festival has returned annually, continuing to try to bring people to downtown to shop, dine and create community, organizers say.

While it’s largely been deemed a success due to the sheer volume of attendance — 25,000 last summer — some business owners are arguing it’s hurting them, festival director Eugene Carr told the Select Board last week.

Carr acknowledged that "bringing people downtown doesn’t automatically benefit every business in the same way and we’ve heard that consistently for the last five years."

The feedback revolves around having to move cars off Railroad Street at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event, which disrupts the normal shopping afternoon and retailers say the setup is especially disruptive to the businesses when the street is closed on Saturday afternoon.

Berkshire Busk will return this summer after the Select Board approved the permit March 23. While it’s largely been deemed a success due to the sheer volume of attendance, some business owners are arguing closing down the street to parking is hurting them.

“They wanted Railroad Street to be the way it was before COVID, so we thought this summer would be an opportunity to try that out,” Carr said. “We figured we’re never going to make everyone happy, but we thought we would try a new approach.”

Of the 25,000 visitors last year, 81 percent consider themselves local residents, general manager Carli Scolforo said. A survey of 300 attendees last year found that three in four planned to spend an average of $71 each.

“There's a preconceived notion that this is something for second-home owners. We feel strongly that this is first and foremost a community event,” Scolforo said.

Jamie Goldenberg, owner of Heart GB, said she conducted her own poll of year-round residents and found 57 percent said they avoid downtown during Busk. She added that after analyzing her Saturday sales, she found they “drop off completely” around 3 p.m. during Busk, while October sales remain steady until close.

“When Busk started, it was helping, not hurting, downtown businesses by drawing people in when we were lacking common gathering spaces,” Goldenberg said. “However, this is no longer the case and unfortunately, Busk’s original purpose has morphed and is now making business more difficult.”

Goldenberg and other owners who spoke agreed that their customers have said they avoid downtown Great Barrington during Busk and criticized the survey by the Busk team for not talking to more business owners.

Others, however, spoke in favor of Busk, including Kristen Kantor of Railroad Street Collective, who said she was spoken to by Busk organizers and she does have a “considerable” amount of business during the festival, but acknowledged that not everyone can say the same.

Michael Marcus, owner of Bizen Gourmet, said Berkshire Busk exposes new people to businesses in downtown Great Barrington.

“I can’t be in more opposition to the dissent expressed today by some merchants on Railroad Street,” Marcus said. “Berkshire Busk is an unmitigated success. It has brought countless people to Great Barrington and to Railroad Street. It has been an experience of joy for the entire community.”

After hearing from business owners, the Select Board approved the permit application, but with some changes to its format.

The street performer festival in downtown Great Barrington will now run the first three Friday and Saturday nights in July — rather than 10 weekends, as it has in the past — with an additional Housatonic pop-up the afternoon of July 18. Berkshire Busk will still be active in the courtyard behind the Barrington House on the other weekends with a special appearance from Tanglewood musicians Aug. 1.