Carolyn Colley, lead singer of Black Wolf and the Thief, performs on the Summit Stage at the end of the Phelps Street walkway during the opening of the Federal Frenzy Saturday.

YOUNGSTOWN — Carolyn Colley showed no signs of rust Saturday afternoon as she belted out lyrics to some original hits on the Summit Stage at the north end of the Phelps Street Gateway.

The Howland High School graduate who leads the band Black Wolf and the Thief helped to kick off the return of the Federal Frenzy spring celebration to downtown.

Colley said it was good to be back on the stage after an almost two-year layoff caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the birth of her son.

But she looked in sync as she gyrated with her band partner and husband, Clay Colley, on the keyboards. Clay teaches piano at home and directs music at Poland United Methodist Church, which Carolyn said allows her to spend more time at home with their son.

“There is no better place to be today, with the great crowd and the weather to match. To me, it’s like a big coming out party,” Carolyn Colley said as she gave a shoutout to her son from the stage. “This was just so exciting to get back in the swing of things.”

Black Wolf and the Thief, which has played at local venues, was the first of four bands hitting the Summit Stage, while the main stage near Central Square featured six bands through 11 p.m. Another back stage in a parking lot off West Federal Street also featured eight other acts.

Event organizer Jordan Record of Youngstown State University’s Penguins Productions said she expected about 6,000 to hit downtown. By mid-afternoon, it looked like the prediction was right on as the sun continued to shine and people poured into the downtown area.

“We are excited to see everybody back in person,” Record said, noting the last two Frenzy events were staged online because of the pandemic.

Record said all the bands were to perform outdoors instead of at some of the downtown bars as a nod to keeping with safety. As it was, the doors to Suzie’s Dogs and Drafts and O’Donold’s restaurants were locked, but several other restaurants had their outdoor terraces filled as people strolled down both Federal and Phelps streets.

There was plenty of activities for young and old alike. Dozens of craft booths were set up along Phelps Street, as well as painting stations, cornhole pits and assorted children’s games that were set up along West Federal Street.

June Anthony of Austintown brought along her 11-year-old stepson Luke to the Frenzy, and they stopped to enjoy a game of Connect 4. She said the two planned to stick around for a few hours to play some more games as well as get some food.

“So far so good,” Anthony said about her Frenzy experience. “I’ve lived in upstate New York and I’ve been to some street fairs in the Bronx, and I was thinking that this event was reminding me of it.”

Anthony said she was happy to see people coming to downtown to enjoy themselves.

“It’s not too often that happens anymore,” she said. “Maybe we can get more of these kind of events down here.”

Also showing up to entertain the kids were Disney characters hosted by Castle on a Cloud Entertainment of Newton Falls.

The four-legged set also got to enjoy the fun in the sun on Saturday. Mandy Silker of Youngstown brought her Markie mixed-breed Ace, who seemed to not mind the crowds.

“I just love this kind of stuff,” Silker said as she motioned toward the Summit Stage as Colley sang a number from the band’s “The Pioneer” debut album.

Carolyn Colley said she hopes the Frenzy gig will trigger more appearances for her band.

“But you can also find us on Spotify and YouTube,” she said.

gvogrin@tribtoday.com