An event billed as a flash mob in downtown Tamaqua went on as planned Wednesday, but for those on hand, there was just too much heat to strut their stuff.

High temperatures and humidity put a damper on flashing or mobbing, but a handful of spectators enjoyed miniconcerts of blues music presented on East and West Broad Street from 11:30 until 1 p.m.The impromptu concert by Eddie "Bluestone" Conover and the Rockabilly Cats caught shoppers by surprise."Oh wow! There's music! That's awesome," said Tabitha Jones. "We just came here from Lancaster to take Grammy to lunch," said Jones, accompanied by husband Ryan and son Josiah, 1 1/2.The toddler was the only one with enough energy to dance."He loves music. He was a preemie and we always played lullabies to him," said Jones.The family, joined by grandmother Shirley Miller of Tamaqua, stayed for the miniconcert and then retreated to lunchtime air conditioning inside La Dolce Casa Restaurant.The flash mob idea was to create excitement and promote the group's Friday appearance at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center at 125 Pine St."One half of the proceeds go to the arts center to help fund low and no-cost programs," said Jack Kulp, board chairman.The term flash mob typically indicates a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and perhaps pointless act for a brief time, then quickly disperse, often for purposes of entertainment and artistic expression.When a gathering is organized via social media on short notice and is a mechanism to promote an event, the term "smart mob" is often used.There was a separate, unrelated flash mob scheduled for Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. at Hometown Farmers Market.That event was organized by students of Schools and Homes in Education, or SHINE, with about 30 youngsters expected to participate.The program serves Carbon and Schuylkill counties and is beneficial "for students who need just a little extra help," said Leona Rega, former assistant director.Parent Frank Tongue, of Lansford, and others waited over an hour for the Hometown flash mob to take place, but it failed to materialize.Tongue, who's son Zachary, 14, is a member of the group, made a few phone calls and learned the activity had been moved to the Carbon Plaza Mall at the last minute.Flash mobs and smart mobs rely heavily on social media to alert participants.A similar smart mob, billed as a flash mob, took place at Tamaqua Depot Square Park on May 31, 2013.That event promoted a June 8 carnival by the Eclectic Circus at the former First Presbyterian Church building.