Phyllis Fredendall, Tammy Gajewski and Madhura Mehendale demonstrate fiber, clay and watercolor painting outside the Copper Country Community Arts Center during Key Ingredients in Hancock Friday.

HANCOCK — After a three-year layoff, Key Ingredients returned to downtown Hancock Friday night. 

From La Cantina to Gino’s, people sampled food, music and art demonstrations along Quincy Street. 

Hancock City Manager Mary Babcock said after the long layoff, the event went better than expected. More restaurants participated this year.

“People are really enjoying being out and about, and this weather couldn’t be better,” she said. “We’re trying to expand it a little bit every year.”

Rudy Escobar and Steph Tubman were relaxing on Quincy Green listening to Keweenaw Brewgrass. 

“It’s such a unique experience that we get for everybody to come out here,” she said. “I wish we could do it all the time, but maybe that makes it special.”

Gemignani’s went through 200 meatball samples in an hour, said chef David Goodman.

“It’s good for the community,” he said. “It gets some exposure for the restaurant, and lots of tourists.”

Some food samples required more patience. Members of the Ryan Street Community Garden set up in the shade by the garden. About 20 people have plots there, said director Mandy Lounibos. 

“They’re tomatoes and peppers, but we’re not sure what variety,” she said. 

Outside the Copper Country Community Arts Center, artists set up tables outside to demonstrate arts such as clay and watercolor painting. Phyllis Fredendall made a series of concentric circles through needle felting. 

“They’re barbed needles, and so they push and pull the wool in,” she said. “Because the wool is sort of a microscopic porcupine quill, it stays.”

Grabbing pink and blue samples, Fredendall used hand carders to brush the colors together.

The event was a showcase both for longtime favorites and for new businesses. The Griffin Cafe in the Jutila Center had a soft opening in April before hosting their grand opening earlier this month. They had samples of pasties and an assortment of cookies, which people eagerly snapped up. They also handed out coupons for discount ice cream. 

“We just want everybody to know where we’re at, and that we have new hours,” said owner Kelly Griffin. In addition to the extended nighttime hours Thursday through Saturday, the cafe is now also selling ice cream, for which Griffin handed out coupons Friday night. Griffin also hopes to add flavored coffee soon. 

Tubman found it hard to pick a favorite thing about the event. 

“There’s so many cool little things, like walking by all the stores and there’s just randomly a really good musician,” she said. “That’s what I love about this, is you get to see so many different people and so many different styles. It’s like a little surprise around every corner.”