The start of the Christmas season is coming early with Devine Street’s annual “Devine Night Out.”

Put on by the Devine Street Association, the event features different family-friendly activities, such as food trucks, balloon animals, face painting, discounts from different stores, a DJ, Santa and the Christmas tree lighting.

The stretch of Devine uphill from Five Points, runs between the Shandon and Old Shannon neighborhoods, is flanked by upscale restaurants and clothing shops, two coffee shops, a craft brewery, Columbia Fire Station No. 9, two bakeries and new, upscale apartments.

Marisa Barron, fourth year “Devine Night Out” attendee, said her favorite part of the event is the community coming together as a whole. 

“I love how the kids get together and have fun and get to see Santa,” Barron said. “It’s like Christmas prep a few weeks before Christmas, and it gets the holiday season going. It’s awesome that we get to support our local vendors as well, which I love living nearby them, and supporting them.”

Local food vendors are present at the event, such as Brandi Hughes, who fundraises by selling candy apples, which led them to their first time at “Devine Night Out.”

“My husband decided to build a big nature park in our church,” Hughes said. “… And he was paying for it out of pocket. … And we started selling apples as a fundraiser, and God just blessed us into a business and now we have three trucks.”

Live music followed people walking up and down the street, played by artists such as the “Easy Does It Duo,” a two-man jazz band, and DJs Angelo and Fig Mix. 

DJ Fig Mix said he has DJ’ed all over the world, and now runs a Latin radio station. 

“I worked in Miami and that’s where I started,” Mix said. “Then I DJ’ed all over. When I was overseas in the military I DJ’ed in South Korea, then came back to the States (DJ’ed) at (Columbia’s) Fort Jackson, North Stewart and then retired here.”

The event is held outdoors, which Barron said is also one of the best parts.

“Last year was a little bit like rainy and cold, so there weren’t as many people,” Barron said. “This year was perfect weather and it’s a beautiful event for sure.”