A light drizzle didn’t deter crowds from heading downtown Thursday evening for Vicksburg Main Street’s annual Hit the Bricks event.

A fashion show, live music, food and extended shopping hours drew both locals and visitors alike to Washington Street. The event coincided with Nurses Night Out, inviting participants from a meeting hosted at the Vicksburg Convention Center by the Mississippi Organization of Associates Degree Nursing.

“We were just talking about how we wish our Meridian downtown was like Vicksburg’s downtown,” said Madison Mills, an MCC nursing student who attended Hit the Bricks with friends. “The people here are nice. They ask, ‘Are you here for the nursing convention?’ As soon as you say yes, it’s like their whole demeanor changes, like let me do whatever I can for you.”

Nicole Crocker, who recently moved to Vicksburg from Clinton, had never been to the event before.

“I think it’s awesome they can get out and run around with the music,” she said, gesturing at her 2- and 3-year-old sons Kellen and Caden.

At Peterson’s Art and Antiques, co-owner Bobbie Marascalco said the focus was on the food.

“All the foods that we’re serving, we sell,” she said, noting that those foods included dip mixes, pork loin used pecan oil and a rub. Peterson’s employees also donned pajamas made of bamboo that were worn by a model in the fashion show.

Regina Gailani said the timing of the event and the nurses’ convention is a great thing for the city.

“They (the nurses) get very excited about coming to Vicksburg,” she said. “We used to do two (Hit the Bricks), and they were pretty close to each other, so that’s when we decided to just make it around the nurses.”

Gailani said though the weather for the event wasn’t great, she was happy with the turnout.

“There’s always a little deterrent, and it’s a shame,” she said. “I always hear from folks later on that say they wanted to come, and they’re always sorry they didn’t come.”