TALLADEGA — As the sun went down Saturday, the party was just cranking up at the April on the Square Block Party.

Vendors from all over Talladega County displayed their artwork, crafts, jewelry and other items at booths lined up around the square.

Inflated slides, jumpers and obstacle courses were also lined up along one section of the square.

The Theatrix Band from Birmingham belted out tunes on a stage in front of the Ritz Theatre.

Misty McGehee, chairwoman of the Block Party Committee, said that with April in Talladega coming to a close Saturday, the committee wanted the block party to serve as a big finale.

“We just basically want to keep people in Talladega to taste our great food and to shop,” McGehee said.

She said the block party was something the community has been wanting for a long time.

“People have just had it in the back of their minds and we just wanted to make it happen and we just wanted to draw families out and make them stick around,” McGehee said.

People could be seen at the block party visiting vendors and chatting with old friends as the Theatrix band played.

Members of the Talladega Lions Club, decked out in their purple and gold, were enjoying the scene from their fundraising booth.

“We’re glad for the opportunity to have a local fundraiser for our club. All the money we raise here stays here,” Talladega Lions Club President Ronda Murner said.

The Lions Club sold everything from homemade peanut brittle and plastic bag holders made by Murner to plants and flowers grown by Lions Club members.

Murner said she and other Lions Club members had been there since about 3:35 p.m. and things had picked up quite a bit by 6.

“This could be a good annual event for lots of people here,” Murner said.

Vendors from all over the county were there to enjoy the festivities and promote their businesses, including Andrew Hudson from Sylacauga, who sells wood crafts and carvings, and Kelly Howell and Misty Webster, who are co-owners of Southern Charm Décor in Lincoln.

Howell and Webster are both stay-at-home mothers who sell most of their welcome signs and décor items through their Facebook page.

They made sure to post that they would be at the block party on their Facebook page so they could have some face-to-face time with customers.

“I’m excited,” Howell said. “We do most of our work on Facebook, so this is the first time we’ve actually been to something like this. We’re so busy, so this is our first time here today.”

Along with vendors selling different knickknacks were local food vendors selling everything from barbecue to catfish.

D & W Kettlecorn, Miller’s Barbeque and newcomers The Lazy Pig served all kinds of tasty food for block party attendees.

The Lazy Pig co-owners Ray and Lynne Nix, along with their daughter Raechel Studdard, served catfish, corn dogs, hushpuppies and fries and said the block party had definitely helped them spread the word about their new business.

“We really need it. We just started. This is our first day,” Ray Nix said.

For Nix, the block party served as a nice break from the restaurant on Kelly Ranch Road in Talladega, and a time for them to meet new customers.

But the most impressive vendors by far were Brayden Dulaney, 7, and Jayden Ramsey, 6, who were busy running their own $1 lemonade stand.

The young duo worked together, getting red Dixie cups, scooping ice and serving up homemade lemonade for their line of customers.

When asked if they were enjoying themselves at the block party, they only had time to say a quick “Yes” before getting back to work to serve their newly formed line of customers.

Also Saturday, the community of Bemiston had its “Bemiston Blowout” block party as a way to fellowship and have fun while raising money for the Samaritan House.

Bemiston Baptist Church and Talladega Creek Baptist Church joined forces for a fun day of outdoor activities that started with a 5k run at 8 a.m., a Shoot and Scoot basketball tournament at 10 a.m., and a block party at noon, with music, food, inflatable slides and obstacle courses, and games.

The evening concluded with the community watching the movie “Facing the Giants” on an outdoor screen.