The first-ever Red, White and Blue Block Party ushered in the month of July in Los Gatos, with North Santa Cruz Avenue closed to vehicles in the downtown shopping district so residents could play in the street while mingling with family and friends.

Saturday’s block party was a direct response to the cut-through beach traffic problem: The town council decided more downtown events would attract more shoppers and diners, and help legitimize the closure of the southbound Highway 17 on-ramp at South Santa Cruz Avenue and Wood Road.

Overall, reviews of the block party indicate it was well-received. There was a comfortable flow of people meandering down the street and engaging in dozens of activities, including library story times, bounce houses, a dunk tank, live music and line dancing, and a trackless train known as the “Chuggabug.”

“I liked when the train went round and round,” Van Meter Elementary School first-grader Arya Shetty said. “I got dizzy, but it was fun.”

Kids also seemed to love the giant “Fun Slide.”

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“It was fast and fun,” Fisher Middle School eighth-grader Aleeza Akhtar said. She gave the street fair itself a thumbs up and particularly liked the fact that it was close to her home.

Residents were encouraged to ride their bikes to the party, and many did; one observer estimated there were more than 100 bicycles in the free bike valet. Many bikes were decorated for the 3 p.m. bicycle parade that was led by Mayor Marico Sayoc and Councilwoman Marcia Jensen.

In advance of the parade, the Kiwanis club set up a bike decorating booth stocked with red, white and blue crepe paper, sticky stars, pinwheels, American flags and streamers.

“We did the booth to decorate bikes, but instead we’re decorating people,” Kiwanian Terry Martin said.

Across the way, the Razzberry Lips party store for girls was spraying hair red, white and blue . The real attention-getter, however, was Haily Leipold, who was dressed as Ariel the mermaid from “The Little Mermaid” movie.

“A lot of little girls have been getting their hair and nails done, and asking me, ‘How are you out of the water?’ I tell them it’s magic,” Leipold said.

Razzberry Lips’ manager Katie Boland, who “loves” the town Christmas parade, thought it was “cool” to close the street down for a summer event.

A quick check of a few restaurants showed good-size crowds inside Gardino’s, Centenove and the Loma Brewing Company. The brewery even set-up an outdoor beer garden, giving pedestrians a place to set a spell.

Chamber of Commerce executive director Catherine Somers informally surveyed retailers throughout the day and reported mixed reviews from merchants.

“I think what the merchants did like is (the event) reminded people how great our downtown is,” Somers said. “Even though moms with kids didn’t shop, I did hear some say they’ll be back later.”

She She Shoes employee Victoria Larson said business was OK.

“It’s a very family-oriented day, so moms aren’t shopping as much because they have their little ones in tow,” Larson said.

She added that the store usually does “really well on sunny Saturdays, and we’re doing better (today) than last year.”

Mayor Sayoc was pleased with the block party and observed, “Everybody’s happy meeting their neighbors and enjoying the retail shops they haven’t been in in a while.”

Lisa and Adam Zapien, who visited with their son, enjoyed going down the water slide as a family. “I thought it was nice that it was free for the kids,” Lisa said.

The Zapiens took Blossom Hill Road from the Almaden Valley to Los Gatos and said the drive took about 15 minutes. But they did notice a backup at Blossom Hill and Los Gatos Boulevard.

Reports from other parts of town indicated that beach traffic continues to be a problem.

Resident Jak Van Nada said Winchester Boulevard was “plugged” when he left the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center at 10 a.m.

Yet the view from the Main Street bridge just after noon and 4 p.m. Saturday showed southbound Highway 17 traffic was moving at a good pace.