BELFAST — If you happened to be downtown Saturday, Oct. 11, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., you may have heard the sound of music, or even seen the people hula-hooping and dancing in the courtyard off of Beaver Street.

Captain Obvious offered their vocals as a siren's song to locals, hoping to help draw a crowd.

"We're wearing our Captain Obvious uniforms under our fleece," joked one of the band members.

This year was the first "block party," an event born from a desire to draw attention to local businesses not on the streets of downtown Belfast, according to Breanna Pinkham Bebb, of Our Town Belfast. The event included live music, a treasure hunt and photo opportunities provided by the many marquee letters of Bay City Cargo.

Pinkham Bebb says the idea came about over the summer when several new businesses opened in the area, including Minnows Children's Consignment Shop and Quench Metalworks.

When Pinkham Bebb introduced herself to Minnows owner Libby Dimond, the two came up with the idea of an event designed to draw people to the stores on Beaver Street. The street is used almost constantly, but one whose true potential is usually overlooked, according to Dimond and Pinkham Bebb.

Both women said they'd gotten the impression many locals were unaware of any allure to the street beyond being a way to circumnavigate summer traffic.

Jennifer Atkins Lisa, the owner of Quench, spent years bringing her wares to craft shows "all over New England," she said, "they're exhausting."

When her lifelong dream of a brick and mortar store became a possibility after space opened on Beaver Street, she decided to seize the opportunity.

As for the frequenters of Quench's store, which offers Atkins Lisa's hand-made jewelry and other "small personal items," for both men and women, she said thus far it has largely been tourists who actively wander downtown Belfast in search of hidden gems. But she, along with the other participants of the block party are hoping Beaver Street will become as well loved by locals as it has proven with visitors.

While the treasure hunt lead participants around local businesses, Captain Obvious provided spirited covers of classic rock songs to those lingering in the courtyard. While the crowd was initially sparse when the band began to play, it didn't take long for a trickle of people to become a fairly steady flow.

"We didn't think anyone would show up," one of the band members told the crowd, "then, voila."

Two other contributors to the merry-making arrived with arm-loads of hula hoops for anyone with a will to wiggle, and there were many takers.

"We have water here for anyone who hoops up a thirst," Breanna told the crowd.

Minnows Children's Consignment owner, Libby Dimond said sense of community is one of the things that drew her toward the consignment business.

"I like the dynamic [of consignment shops]," she said, "they rely on the community both for their donations, and as patrons."

Another oft overlooked store on Beaver Street is the recently opened Bay City Cargo, not to be confused with the kitschy 90s store on Main Street.

While the latter offered interesting trinkets, the former offers something much different: marquee letters and signs. There are a variety of style available, including authentic vintage recycled tin letters, plastic letters and symbols, as well as more unusual finds, like movie rating signs and the scales of justice.

For those who may have missed the festivities, fear not – while you may have missed out on a musical accompaniment to your shopping trip, the friendly faces remain, along with other treasures yet to be found. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com