GREEN COVE SPRINGS – It was only 6 p.m., just two hours into Saturday night’s 150^th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration, with three hours remaining, and Spring Park was already starting to swell.

Green Cove Springs Police Department officer Josh Lee, who was keeping cars from entering Walnut Street from St. Johns Avenue, shook his head and said, “This might be the biggest event we’ve had here.”

And it was just getting started.

While it wasn’t possible to count how many filtered in and out of the 5.3-acre park during the five-hour event, which concluded with the biggest fireworks show in city history, the food truck vendors estimated at least 15,000 were at the park to kick off the year-long celebration commemorating Green Cove Springs' incorporation in 1874.

“I kept telling everybody it seemed to me like it was like one of our Memorial Day Riverfests combined with our normal Food Truck Friday crowds,” said Mayor and downtown business owner Steven Kelley. “It did seem like the two combined to create such a big, well-attended event.”

The combination of the event's significance, perfect weather, the biggest fireworks show in city history and Duval County Line's appearance as the headlining performer led to what most believed was the largest gathering in Spring Park history.

Cheri Starnes and Mallore Dippy own restaurants within walking distance of Spring Park. They said the birthday party was good for their business, too.

 Starnes said her pool tables and diner seats were full at The Corner Pocket and Around the Corner Diner.

“They had 80 vendors and food trucks, so much to choose from, but it also helped businesses,” Starnes said. “We had people come in and eat even though there were all the food trucks. So it was nice for the food trucks and great for the park, but it also helped local businesses."

Dippy's Roger That Wings and Things was a great place to escape, catch the Florida-Georgia football game, and enjoy a few beers.

"I think I was the only Georgia fan in there," Dippy said. "But the Florida fans had a good time, too.  When you have that many people downtown,  it's good when they can walk around and explore. It was good for us. We had a good night. Everyone had a wonderful time."

Food Truck Friday was moved to Saturday to accommodate the crowds. Clay County Cruzers' car show and the Children's Entrepreneur Market were held on the corner of Walnut and St. Johns. In all, there were more than 80 vendors and food trucks.

The city gave away and sold 150^th birthday swag, including T-shirts, challenge coins and poker chips. They also distributed free copies of its new directory, written and produced by Clay Today and the City of Green Cove Springs.

“The most charming I’ve ever seen Green Cove Springs are those nights when there's like kids running around waiting to see some fireworks,” Kelley said. “It’s the most heartfelt hometown-like feeling. They created just the perfect scenario combined with Food Truck Friday vibes.”

The highlights of the festivities were a concert by Duval County Line, and a massive 20-minute fireworks show over the St. Johns River.

DCL opened with “I’m Free,” one of the eight tracks from their new album “Hammer Stone.” Their extended performance was the perfect set-up for the Fantasy in the Sky finale.

The city then piped a compilation of Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special songs – “Free Bird,” “So Caught Up in You,” “Stone Cold Believer,” Swamp Music,” “Hold on Loosely,” “Back Where You Belong,” Simple Man,” “I Know a Little” and finishing with “Free Bird” again.

The celebration will continue for nearly a year, but Kelley admitted the birthday party at the park will be a tough act to follow.

“The event we put on (last Saturday) is definitely going to be hard to top, which is really great because I know a lot of the other towns are going to be having their (anniversaries) in the next few years,” he said. “I think it's great to set the bar high because everyone's going to benefit from us setting the pace and putting such a great event on down there.”