Chase Lefever, 7 — along with his sisters Fawn, 2, left, and Eva Lefever, 3 — gets a balloon animal from magician Steve Haberman at Saxonburg's Mingle on Main Thursday evening.

SAXONBURG — Close to 1,000 people showed up on Main Street in Saxonburg for the Mingle on Main event Thursday evening.

The Saxonburg Area Business Association started Mingle on Main about six years ago to drum up excitement about local businesses.

While the vendors and local businesses are still a focus this year, many people are anticipating the monthly event for the chance to get out again after it was canceled in 2020.

“We have really been enjoying it this year,” said Laura Santora, a Saxonburg resident. “It's great to see Mingle on Main back.”

This week's Mingle on Main was the second of the season, and the second back since 2019. According to Meghan Pohl, who helped found the event, this month's Mingle on Main was a little slower to get started than June's.

But the volume of people in attendance Thursday was nothing short of a success.“The last mingle was crazy,” said Pohl, who owns the small Saxonburg business Batch, a home goods and specialty food store. “I do think people are just ready to get back out and they are excited.”Pohl said the Saxonburg Area Business Association helps to run the event, and it has gone from about five vendors the first year to having about 45 this year.The mix of food, drink, artisan and clothing vendors populating Main Street were swarmed by people looking for treats. Pohl said this was one of the main goals of the event. “The idea was to do something to drum up excitement for small businesses,” she said. “Saxonburg is kind of off the beaten path, so we needed something to drum up support.”

David and Stephanie Thompson, who live in Saxonburg, went to the mingle with their son, Joshua, just looking for some evening fun. They said they have been slowly returning to events like it.“We have been trying to inch our way back safely,” said Stephanie Thompson. “This is something that feels normal.”People even came to Saxonburg from out of town looking to get back to a sense of community.“It's overwhelming but good,” said Elizabeth Rakovan, who came from Tarentum to attend the event. “People need connection.”

Rose Florentine, 3, left, and her sister Lillian, 8, sword and dragon fight with their balloon animals at Thursday's Mingle on Main in Saxonburg.

Visitors and locals walk Main Street in Saxonburg during the town's Mingle on Main on Thursday. The event takes place once a month.

Locals and visitors walk down Main Street in Saxonburg during the town's monthly Mingle on Main event Thursday.

Audrey Walker, 10, gets her face painted at Saxonburg's Mingle on Main Thursday.

Maverick Osterling, 4, right, and Kennedy Birckbichler, 4, play with blocks at Thursday's Mingle on Main in Saxonburg.

A 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle and other classic cars on display at Saxonburg's Mingle on Main Thursday.