There was a party in the parking lot at the West End Celebration Fest at the fairgrounds in Gilbert on Friday.

Appropriately, the Brian Dean Moore Band sang The “Parking Lot Party” song by Lee Brice, talking about folks gathered in a parking lot and having a good time.

“I love the food, especially the French fries, the games and the music,” said 13-year-old David Hauer of Saylorsburg, while wearing a glow stick necklace and dancing around.

His mom, sister and family friends were seated in lawn chairs by their vehicles listening to the bands and awaiting the fireworks display to begin.

“I was kind of disappointed that there is no fair this year, but I am glad we have something like tonight to do,” said Wayne Muffley of Saylorsburg.

He has only missed one West End Fair in recent years, and that was in 1997 when he was in California. He said he usually attends five or six nights each year.

Other families were gathered around their trucks and cars, some with pop up tent canopies and blankets spread out. Kids tossed balls and Frisbees to one another.

Multiple generations of family members shared stories while munching on treats purchased there - including fries, ice cream, strawberry shortcake, walking tacos, pizza and soft pretzels.

Closer to the band stage, folks were scattered out in lawn chairs, at picnic tables and seated on blankets. They roamed around to the two game stands, array of food vendors, the tables of basket raffle items and Blue Ridge Winery’s table to purchase glasses of wine.

“I think the event went really well. It seemed like everyone enjoyed themselves and did the social distancing thing,” said Dale “Peanut” Greenzweig, president of the West End Fair committee.

This was the first of a few smaller-scale events planned at the fairgrounds, in lieu of the canceled 2020 fair due to the pandemic.

The event began at 4 p.m. with Jeni Hackett’s performance in the hot sunshine. Most of the crowd tried to find a shady spot under the trees to enjoy her music.

She started with the national anthem, and sang a few other patriotic tunes among her original songs and cover songs.

She shared a comical story of the “mom brain” she has had since the recent birth of her daughter.

“My first gig after quarantine was at the Covered Bridge Inn. I got there, opened my guitar case and there was no guitar. I forgot it at home,” she said. “My mom brain happened today too. I forgot my phone.”

Friday’s event was her third gig since March 13.

The Brian Dean Moore Band took the stage around 6:30 to play an array of country tunes and entertain the growing audience as the sun went down and the temperature cooled.

Couples danced to slow songs. Some attempted to line dance during songs like “Copperhead Road.”

Kids played and danced around with each other.

“The crowd was a good number. The area we had allowed people to stay apart,” Greenzweig said.

Around 400 cars had been counted as of 9 p.m. Some arrived afterwards.

There was a large area in front of the stage for mingling and dancing. There were hand-washing stations and hand sanitizer pumps throughout the event area.

Picnic tables were spread out to maintain social distancing. Masks were encouraged.

The band closed out its final set and the crowd awaited Shooting Star Fireworks’ display.

The sky soon lit up with green, red, blue and gold fireworks behind the West End Fair sign hanging over the band stage.