WASHINGTON – Washington’s Central Park was as lively Thursday night as it’s been in months with the return of the Washington Farmers Market.

More than 50 vendors set up shop to accommodate hundreds of market-goers who came for the dining, the deals and the dancing to live music, courtesy of pFat Back Boys. Washington Farmers Market Coordinator Kathy Salazar said she was happy with the turnout, which was aided by the pleasant weather.

“We usually expect a larger crowd on the first night, and we hope for good weather, because good weather always brings more people out,” Salazar said. “When the weather is a little chillier, we don’t get as many people.”

Salazar said one point of emphasis for this year’s markets is to have more musical acts. She said that attendance dips when there’s no music to listen to.

“People don’t stick around as long, but if we have live music, people tend to stay and socialize,” she said. “The municipal band can’t play the whole season, so we’re getting live bands to cover that.”

Salazar said the opening act of the market season, pFat Back Boys, is very popular and she knew it would attract a crowd.

Stacey Chenoweth and her son, Mark, set up a booth at the market to sell Stacey’s baked goods such as homemade sourdough breads, rolls and cookies. She said Thursday was her farmers market debut, and said she was motivated to have her own booth this year after some successful sourdough baking with a friend.

“I’ve been making different things and letting my friends try it to see what they like,” she said. “I’ve been tweaking the recipes, getting them to where they’re more my own recipe versus what I found online.”

Stacey explained that when she makes sourdough bread, she “feeds” it every night before she goes to bed so it’s ready for her to mix something up in the morning.

“It’s pretty much like taking care of a baby,” she said. “You’ve got to take care of it daily.”

Mark said he’s often too busy with sports and lifting to help with the baking, but he’s in charge of sales.

“He’s my marketing buddy,” Stacey said of her son.

Bill and Cindy Wellington set up their popcorn machine to sell popcorn during Thursday’s market. They said they used to sell funnel cakes years ago, but when Dick Anderson retired from his popcorn business, he asked the Wellingtons if they wanted to take it over. They agreed.

Cindy said she’s noticed that attendance at the markets has really picked up in the last couple of years. Bill said he thinks it’s because consumers are looking for bargains, and the market has them.

“They want to get their money’s worth, instead of going to a grocery store where everything has gone sky-high,” Bill said. “Here, everything is made fresh every day. That’s what people like.”