WEBVTT TONIGHT. I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE TONIGHT, AND THEY SAID THE NIGHT MEANS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE. IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST DRAWS OF THE FAIR. CHRYSTAL: WE JUST ALL GET TOGETHER. ROSE: THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE POUR IN TO CELEBRATE EAST SIDE NIGHT, THE UNOFFICIAL FAIR HOLIDAY HELD ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE EVENT. FOR EAST SIDERS LIKE CHRYSTAL MCFARLAND, IT'S A NIGHT STEMMED IN TRADITION. CHRYSTAL: I WEAR THIS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. ROSE: A SHIRT SHOWING OFF HER EAST SIDE PRIDE. THIS NIGHT, PEOPLE FROM THE EAST SIDE OF DES MOINES HAVE A REUNION AT THE FAIRGROUNDS. IT'S A TIME TO CATCH UP AND ENJOY MUSIC, FOOD, AND BREWS TOGETHER. CHRYSTAL: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PRIDE FOR YOUR TOWN, ESPECIALLY ON THIS SIDE OF THE TOWN. IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN THAT THAT HAPPENS. WE ALSO HAVE ENORMOUS ALUMNI AT EAST HIGH, SO PRETTY PROUD OF THAT. ROSE: ALL THOSE CROWDS KEEP HOTSPOTS LIKE JALAPENO PETE'S AND THE DEPOT HOPPING ALL NIGHT LONG. KRISTY: BETWEEN THE FOOD, THE BEER, THE POP, AND HAVING A GOOD TIME, IT'S JUST GOBS OF PEOPLE. NANCY: BY FAR AND AWAY THE BUSIEST NIGHT OF THE FAIR. ROSE: MANAGERS SAY THEY DOUBLE THEIR STAFF ON EAST SIDE NIGHT TO HANDLE THE DEMAND. BUT THEY SAY IT'S ALL PART OF THE FUN. KRISTY: I ENJOY IT BECAUSE I ENJOY SEEING THE PEOPLE FROM YEAR TO YEAR. JUST SEEING EVERYBODY HAVE A GOOD TIME. ROSE: IT IS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE AN AFFAIR, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO GET A SAFE RIDE