It was a comfortable evening.

The Stone River facility on the West Columbia Riverwalk was bright and alive with a full house Feb. 26.

The crowd came out for the 3rd annual Taste on the River to benefit the West Columbia Beautification Foundation.

Steve Cohen, an organizer of the event, said it was the largest crowd yet.

“We are very pleased with the turn out,” Cohen said. “We thank the sponsors, the restaurants and those who took time out of their evening to benefit the West Columbia Beautification Foundation.”

The event raised $16,625.

“It was a pleasure to see such an outpouring of support for the Beautification Foundation,” West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton said

Bill Mooneyhan, who helped found the event, said in addition to ticket sales, the event received contributions from Nephron Pharmaceuticals and Jim Hudson Ford.

In 3 years “Taste” has become one of the top events in the area.

There was lots of food by top restaurants and more funds to plant trees and foliage around West Columbia were raised through a silent auction.

Mooneyhan said the funds would be aimed at tree planting and beautification along US 1.

Past efforts have resulted in planting hundreds of trees on Sunset Boulevard, from Meeting Street to I-26.

Mooneyhan said efforts have already begun to make the 2020 Taste on the River even bigger ad better.