HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - The start of downtown's Arts & Entertainment Districts was a big success, according to those who made it happen.

"I think the consensus was (June 20) was a banner night for downtown Huntsville," Allison Dillon-Jauken, executive director of The Arts Council, said. The council was responsible for bringing in the musicians, jugglers and others who performed around the Courthouse Square and Big Spring International Park on the opening night of the districts as well as on June 21. The council is also sponsoring entertainment each Thursday and Friday nights, the days the districts will be open during a three-month trial period.

On the district nights, patrons can purchase an adult beverage and then stroll the blocks around the square and near the intersection of Meridian and Cleveland streets, the site of a second, smaller district. They can shop at the Greene Street Market at Nativity and stop to listen to a musician or watch an artist at work around the square. One Thursday a month, they can also see dozens of artists and their works at the Sidewalk Arts Stroll.

Hundreds of people turned out for the opening night of the districts, and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle has been collecting feedback from the sponsoring organizations as well as the businesses and city departments that were involved.

"We saw neighbors greeting each other, families with children, lots of strollers and a great sense of community spirit," Battle said. "This is the environment and energy we want to see downtown, where people are willing to get outside to enjoy the arts and entertainment. They can also have a drink, do some shopping, grab a meal, and maybe end the evening with a little dancing, too."

A lot of people did get a beverage to go, creating record-breaking nights for some of the area's businesses. Akinde Olagundoye, manager of the Amendent XXI bar, said patrons came out in numbers on June 20, with the line of people buying drinks out the door. People were excited about the live music and performers along with the ability to take a drink down the block to the farmers market or arts stroll, he said.

"It energized everybody to do something like that," he said, adding the bar did "five to six times" its normal sales on Thursday night.

Friday was busy but not to the extent of the number that came out for the opening night and for the arts stroll, he said.

John Robinson, who owns Amendment XXI with his son, Breck Robinson, called the opening of the districts "phenomenal." He praised the Battle administration for getting the ball rolling on the districts once the Alabama legislature passed the law allowing cities to have open container areas. He also praised local law enforcement.

"They've gone the extra mile to promote downtown, and they backed up their verbal commitments with things that made it doable," Robinson said. "It came off nicely. It's all been a good thing and it will be the first of several moves they will make, and we encourage them to do that."

In addition to buying beverages, people were also buying produce at the Greene Street market, with some of the vendors selling out last week. They were also buying art, with some artists having as much as $1,600 in sales.

Harrison Brothers Hardware stayed open while the street performances were going on, from 5 to 8 p.m., and also saw a big uptick in sales the evening of June 20, Donna Castellano, acting director of the Historic Huntsville Foundation, said. The foundation runs Harrison Brothers and profits from the sale of items in the store go to local preservation efforts and foundation activities.

"I think there were a lot of people out and excited about the Arts & Entertainment Districts," Castellano said.

"It's what we all wanted to accomplish. I really hope people will come back Thursday, go to Green Street Market and enjoy the entertainment, grab a drink or dinner downtown. Become addicted to downtown, that's what we're trying to get people to do."

The party will continue June 27, with The Arts Council throwing its first block party of the summer. Eustis Avenue between the square and Greene Street will be closed off, and the finals of the Homegrown Talent contest will take place on a stage in front of the Church of the Nativity, Episcopal. The contest had been scheduled to take place during the Panoply Arts Festival in April, but was postponed due to weather.

The contest will begin at 5 p.m., with the winner announced that night. The music will continue after the contest, with the 2012 winners, the 911 Reporters, and other groups performing until 8 p.m. Activities will also be on the square, with performances by a flute choir and demonstrations by the North Alabama Woodworkers as well as Green Pea Press. Dillon-Jauken said people are welcome to bring chairs and blankets for the block party.

"You can do Greene Street Market, the block party, venture around the square and then go through the park to the Huntsville Museum of Art, which is also open on Thursday night," Dillon-Jauken said.

"You will also find some entertainment on Thursday and Friday nights that will always be new and different," Dillon-Jauken said about the 15 weeks of programming The Arts Council is calling Arts2. "It won't always be a combination of Greene Street and the arts stroll, but it will always be something new and different each Thursday and Friday night."

For a list of Homegrown Talent finalists, click HERE.