Crowds filled State Street in West Columbia and fans gathered around two stages as music filled the air.

Performers included the Dylan Hayes Band, Brooks Herring, and Rutland at two stages, at each end of the festival’s length on State Street.

Businesses had their doors open and lines formed by those who wanted to get in. Food trucks were set up and artists painted murals on the street in the shadow of well-attended vendors tents.

It was the City of West Columbia’s 10th Annual Fall Back Fest on Friday, nov. 6.

Melanie Ward is an artist who displays her work at Steven Whetstone Fine Art at 324 State Street.

“The traffic at the gallery was steady and there was lots of it during the Fall Back Fest, Friday night,” Melanie said. “I’ve come to the Fall Back Fest before, but I don’t think I’ve seen as many people as I saw this time. It was really exciting to see so many people. And they came from all over.”

At State Street Pub, 136 State Street, patrons overflowed onto the sidewalk, waiting to get in.

Owner Jim Oken said he loves the crowds that the Fall Back Fest brings. He said he always gets return customers after Fall Back Fest who find out about State Street Pub when they come to the festival.

Because the University of South Carolina football team was playing Texas A&M on the day after the Fall Back Fest, there were some Aggie fans on State Street.

Nikki and Joe Sanford from Bryan Texas came out after they saw a social media post about the Fall Back Fest.

“I love this,” Nikki said. “It’s a perfect night and the music is great. And we’re going to one of the restaurants on the other side (Meeting Street) to eat later.”

There were multitudes on Meeting Street, too.

The Meeting Street Artisan Market Night Edition was open and filled with visitors in the Interactive Art Park.

Savage Craft Ale Works (430 Center St.) also featured a band and the overflow crowd from State Street filled the courtyard.

Savage Craft Manager Victoria Porter just smiled and said “yes” when asked if she was pleased with the crowd that was attracted by the Fall Back Fest.

There was not an empty seat at D’s Wings (425 Meeting St.)

Also: local artists created temporary murals on State Street throughout the evening.

It was a magical evening in West Columbia, so inviting that it left those who came already anticipating the next West Columbia Street festival.