WESTMINSTER, Calif. — They came. They created. They had a blast.

More than 300 youngsters ages 5 through 15 took participated Saturday in the Sixth Annual Moon Festival Children’s Art Contest, put on by the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), with assistance from a host of community groups and sponsored by Người Việt Daily News. They colored, painted and with colored pencils drew a variety of works representing the people and things near and dear to them.

After looking at the body of work produced by the youngsters, organizer Ysa D. Lê, VAALA president, said the skill of the budding artists continues to impress her, contest after contest.

''It amazes me every year,'' Lê said. ''How can they do it in such a short time, with 299 persons in the room? But they finish — and the artwork is just amazing.''

It also amazed the judges, she said, especially the art submitted by older participants.

''By 11 and 12, techniques have been more developed,'' she said. ''Judges have a very hard time,'' adding that the youngsters possess ''a lot of creativity that surprised us.''

And while some walked away with prizes for placing in the competition, goodies aren’t why the kids signed up.

Lê said they come ''to be closer to the community. They are there to have fun and they are there for the other people — not just to draw and win a prize.''

— Jami Farkas