Thousands of people packed Thursday's edition of Stamford's Alive@Five concert series at Columbus Park.

Workers spent the afternoon preparing by working on the sound system and getting ready for the crowd. Nearby restaurants were also anticipating an influx of customers for the event.

Event organizers say the six-week concert series is about boosting the local economy. Business owners say the added summer traffic helps them get through slow days during the winter.

Monika Rodriguez, the regional manager for Garden Catering, says she put extra staff on duty to handle the crowd.

Last year, organizers added an age requirement of 21 or older to limit underage drinking, and they say it's helped the events run more smoothly.

"Millennials, and even older than millennials, want a city that is happening, and Alive@Five makes it happening," says Sandy Goldstein, the president of Stamford Downtown. "The entertainment, ambience -- the feeling in the air that you are someplace that isn't just an ordinary city."

This week's main event was CeeLo Green.