Families from all over Southwest Riverside County came to the Murrieta Block Party last weekend in a dirt lot adjacent to City Hall and the library on Adams St.

Despite the name, the event resembled a carnival more than it did a party.

Monstrous metal rides rumbled and spun wildly among the booths with huge, dangling stuffed animals, stacks of bottles and dripping squirt guns.

Behind the library at the center of the event, dozens of people sat with children, most snacking on kettle corn or cotton candy, watching a band perform.

The event included two bands, three giant bounce houses, a laser maze, a spider climb, a rock wall, a laser tag game, a mechanical bull, 20 carnival rides and more than 100 vendors.

According to creator Tony Trafton, a professional events organizer, the party marks no specific occasion; it’s just a way to bring Murrieta residents together as a community.

More than six years ago, Trafton conceptualized the event with the city’s previous manager, Lori Moss, who now manages the City of Canyon Lake.

"All the signature events were in Temecula," Trafton said about his reason for creating the event. "There was nothing in Murrieta."

"It’s a commuter community. A lot of people leave Monday through Friday," he added. "A lot of people don’t even know their neighbors."

This was the event’s fourth consecutive year.

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such as Garrett Dietzler, 11, the carnival-style games were the most fun.

"You get more activity and more action," he said, taking a break from a game of laser tag.

For some, the variety of food venders was the best part of the event.

Brian Connors was rushing to the row of food stands Saturday evening with his wife and four teenaged daughters. "We’re starved and we just want to get something to eat," he said.

After reaching the row of venders, the size of the event struck Connors. "It’s getting bigger and bigger each year," he said.

Renae Matheny, 24, agreed: "You can eat all different sorts of food. You can eat and eat all day long."

The block party is the only local event her children like, Sandy Vargas said as she sat on a bench with an infant in a stroller.

"We never have this kind of thing here, something that attracts kids," she said.

Menifee resident Ryan Cole, 31, saw a block party flier in Historic Downtown Murrieta last week and knew he had to bring his kids, he said as he walked by, holding his toddler by the hand.

This year was better than the previous three, Trafton said, because of the beautiful weather.

Last year it was 97 degrees, he said, and it rained on the two events before that.