FAIRFIELD – Fairfield’s Central Park was full of people dancing and children playing on Friday night during the first outdoor Fairfield First Friday’s Art Walk of the year.

The band Roman Cadillacs entertained the crowd all evening long. Vendors set up booths on the sidewalks inside the park, and the park’s perimeter was lined with classic cars brought by Collector Cars Unlimited. Art Walk Director Marla Brader said she was thrilled with the turnout, and glad that art walk partnered with the car club to draw such a large crowd.

“It was fantastic to see so many people out and about, everyone smiling and happy,” Brader said. “That’s what community events are for, to bring us all together. The Collector Cars reached out to discuss a collaboration, and that was fantastic. That was a great addition, and we’re planning to do it again in August.”

The next art walk will be on July 5 and will include the raffle drawing for the Jefferson County Trails Council’s Scavenger Hunt. Brader said the theme of the July art walk is “Summer Celebration.” August’s art walk will be on Aug. 2 and will feature live music again, this time from Chicago singer-songwriter Pierce Crask. Collector Cars Unlimited will do another “cruise” for the August art walk, a tune-up for the group’s Collector Car Show on Sunday, Sept. 22. That car show starts at 9 a.m. with trophies awarded at 2:30 p.m.

Sponsors for Friday’s art walk were Washington State Bank and Dusty Fox Wind, with help from the City of Fairfield which awarded art walk local option sales tax money, and the Fairfield Parks & Recreation Department which is responsible for keeping Central Park in tip-top shape.

Several downtown businesses stayed open late that night, and some hosted art galleries. The former home of Bargain Box on West Broadway Avenue was converted into a pop-up art gallery, too, featuring the work of nine artists. Just a block away at Petra Park, a group of people danced outside to Latin music.

“I loved the vibe from the crowd,” Brader said. “The weather could not have been better if we had ordered it. It was great to see everybody having a good time.”