A welcome sight returned to downtown New Canaan amid the COVID-19 pandemic Friday, as more than two dozen local merchants took to the sidewalks to sell their wares at bargains in a modified version of the traditional Sidewalk Sale.

The usual suspects were out for the So Long Summer Sale in downtown New Canaan—Aug. 21, 2020. Credit: Michael Dinan

Designed as a socially distanced and scaled-down version of the bustling midsummer event, the first-ever So Long Summer Sale saw mask-wearing bargain-hunters peruse racks and tables on the one-way stretches of Elm and Forest Streets, both closed to motor vehicle traffic.

Laura Budd, who is taking over as executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, said the organization was “thrilled with the turnout.”

So Long Summer Sale in downtown New Canaan—Aug. 21, 2020. Credit: Michael Dinan

“Shoppers have been streaming in all day and we have 100% mask compliance,” she said. “We have been in constant contact with all the Merchants out on the street and they feel the event has struck the right balance of business and safety. The weather looks great for tomorrow and we will have a few new vendors joining us so we look forward to seeing new and returning shoppers.”

The So Long Summer Sale will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. again on Saturday. Here’s a podcast with Budd that has more background information.

Here are more photos from day one of the So Long Summer Sale: