The event came as businesses work to attract visitors after the pandemic and two years of construction kept people away, according to organizers and merchants. They hope the gathering can help reconnect the community with the district and introduce it to new visitors.

Ally Dykstra, business liaison for the Downtown Tempe Authority, said residents could see Mill Avenue in a new light. The corridor “might not be what it used to be,” she said, “but it is something fun and exciting and lovely.”

Jen Nesbit, owner of The Shoe Mill, said before the event that she hoped it would bring back people who had not visited recently and give newcomers a chance to discover the local business community.

The program also looked to Tempe’s past, with ghost tours focused on the area’s history. For some attendees, the gathering’s value was in bringing people together. One person watching a live band said having the street open for the event “means everything to everybody,” adding that music can unite people.

Attendees also voiced hope that downtown will host more events in the future. The celebration offered a chance to reconnect with Mill Avenue, though its longer-term impact on businesses remains to be seen.