POTSDAM - It isn’t every day six-year-old Hannah and four-year-old Ryan Charlebois get to walk in the middle of Market Street through the heart of downtown.

That’s one of the annual highlights for the siblings at the Potsdam Summer Festival, according to their parents.

“They think it’s a big deal that the street gets closed, and they can walk in the road,” their mother, Sarah, said.

“They look forward to this every year,” added their father, Jack. “It’s just a mark of summer, I guess.”

That “mark of summer” was visible up and down Market Street and in Ives Park on Thursday evening. In the park, fans of the Norwood Brass Firemen gathered to hear the group play. They sat in lawn chairs under the shade of trees as the sun set, held red, white and blue balloons and munched on ice cream sandwiches distributed by the Potsdam Volunteer Rescue Squad as they listened.

Jane S. Mott of Norwood brought her grandchildren from Austin, Texas to hear the band. Emily A. Mott, 9, said Texas doesn’t have ice cream socials and was impressed with the rescue sSquad’s selection. She was excited to spend summertime in the north country; Austin recently had 109-degree temperatures and canceled Fourth of July fireworks on account of dry weather, she said.

Her grandmother was glad to see old friends and former co-workers at the event.

“You get to chat with people you don’t normally get to chat with,” Ms. Mott said.

Richard D. and Patricia I. Lavine never miss the summer festival. The town of Potsdam residents said the event is a nice change of pace in the summertime.

“There’s often not too much going on,” Mr. Lavine said. “It’s something we really enjoy.”

Hundreds congregated on Market Street as merchants and vendors sold their wares and a live band, Six Foot Midget, sang covers of Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison. Many patrons of Sergi’s Italian Restaurant and Maxfield’s opted to sit outside in front of the establishments to take in the atmosphere.

Andrew P. DeLeon of Chicago, Michele M. Spear of Rochester and Courtney J. Trainer of Chateaugay drank water as they walked down Market Street. They had just finished the “Tour De Potsdam” 5K race in Thursday’s heat and wanted to check out the festival too.

The three said life for Potsdam’s student population slows down in the summer and were glad the village hosted a festival.

“It’s nice to have something going on,” Ms. Trainer said.

The festival continues today and tomorrow. “Outer Market Mania,” featuring children’s games and entertainment, will be in the Big Lots parking lot from noon to 4 p.m today. The Friends of the Library begins its two-day book sale in the Civic Center basement from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m both days. A downtown parade will take place from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Saturday, and the Raquette River Craft Beer and Wine Festival is from 3 to 9 p.m both days in Fall Island Park.

There will be live bands throughout the day and night, and at 6:30 p.m. today the Potsdam Community Band will host a concert in the Ives Park gazebo.

Potsdam Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marylee Ballou said the festival’s first day went well, with large crowds and nearly flawless weather.

“It’s to be out and about, to meet up with your family, meet up with your friends in a community atmosphere,” she said.

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