By Anna Skinner
Despite it being the first time for rain at Party on the Patio since they started the monthly occurrence, members of the public attended the open, free event from 5 to 8 p.m.
Ken Kingshill, executive director of the Downtown Westfield Association said this is the third year for the events. Typically they are held about once a month from April to November.
“When we started off, we figured we would have 40 or 50 people,” Kingshill said. “The first event brought in 70 or 80. Sometimes we get a couple hundred.”
The events began as a way to use the patio space of the Downtown Westfield Association’s property. Kingshill said it wasn’t being used for anything and they wanted to change that. Party on the Patio uses the donated furniture and neat little outdoor space, but Kingshill said the association would love if the public used the space for eating lunch on their work breaks or using it as a picnic area.
Attendees ranged from well-known Westfield officials including the mayor, councilors and parks employees to the general public, who enjoyed live music, free food and drinks, courtesy of this month’s sponsor, CSI Signs.
“We want to showcase the downtown merchants and what they do,” Kingshill said. “This is a way to get people to know these establishments are there and gives people an excuse to come downtown every now and again.”
The event is always an open house, and the public is welcome to stop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time.
The Downtown Westfield Association is at 211 S. Union St. Learn more at http://www.dwna.org/.
