Hosting a miniature Rock ‘n’ Rail festival most Fridays might not have been the direction the Town of Griffith envisioned its Central Market going after the pandemic, but it seems to be working out.

Friday evening’s crowd spread out all over the town’s main meeting place, with those searching for food toward the south end of the park and those wanting to rock out to The Chicago Experience, a tribute band, sprawled out on the lawn to the north in front of the stage. Beer trucks remained near the pavilion and kids, continued to be kids, crawling all over the tank monument.

The town has been using its COVID-19 configuration — a mashup of the Central Market and Broad Street Blues & BBQ Fest layouts — since October, when the town reintroduced some of its events back into action, coordinator Michelle Velez said. Past markets had the largely local bands perform underneath the pavilion, and with some picnic tables in front of the bands and the rest to just north of music.

That iteration worked for space but wasn’t great for social distancing, so setting up a stage to the north, like it does for the blues festival, allowed for people to space themselves out as they wished — a habit many still seem to be employing now, Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd, said.

“Even during the height of COVID, (attendees) just naturally kind of spaced themselves out. You might have a group of 15, but they kept to their own group, which tells me you really don’t have to police people to get them to do the right thing,” he said.

In the meantime, Market planners decided to schedule more tribute bands in addition to local acts, Ryfa said, and instead of keeping to the usual same food truck vendors every fest, organizers are now trying to rotate many different trucks and offerings.

“We have a lot more variety, especially with ethnic food. If we can have 10 different trucks with different ethnic food, that would be great,” Ryfa said. “It’s been a great success so far.”

The new configuration will continue to be the way the town does its popular weekend destination and other festival for the foreseeable future; indeed, new renovations for the park’s facade, including an entry gate and permanent fencing around much of the park for which the town is awaiting construction bids, will help with securing the park during events as well as cut down on temporary fencing costs, Ryfa said.

The crowd Friday appeared more interested in lounging and listening instead of dancing and frolicking, and Shaye Ericson, of Hobart; and Matt Dildine, of Griffith, were no exception. Ericson’s a recent transplant from the Chicago suburbs, and Dildine wanted to show her his town’s best.

“I love it. It’s so relaxing,” Ericson said. “I love the environment and different variety of food. Anytime you can get good Mexican food is a plus.”

Central Market runs most Fridays through Sept. 17, according to the town’s website.

Michelle L, Quinn is a freelance reporter.