MIAMI – The streets were packed with locals and tourists Sunday in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood.
No doubt, it was a welcomed sight for dozens of businesses that have been suffering ever since the art district was dubbed the "Zika zone."
"A lot of people are afraid," Lisa Russo, a real estate agent in Wynwood, told Local 10 News.
The fears are related to the locally acquired cases of the Zika virus. State health officials believe the area of concentration is between Northwest Fifth Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard to Northwest 38th and Northwest 20th streets.
Despite the rain and Zika virus concerns, Saturday also attracted a nice crowd for the monthly Wynwood Art Walk.
"This is one of the coolest areas in Miami, so why wouldn't people come down here and support the locals," Tiffany Mitchell, who was visiting from West Palm Beach, said.
Many restaurants offered discounts on food and drinks over the weekend, and there was also free parking for anyone who came out to show support for the neighborhood.
Some residents and businesses owners voiced their frustration about the continued mosquito spraying in the neighborhood, but Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez defended the county's efforts to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne virus.
"We've been spraying now and in this community for over 40 years," he said. "This is not something new."
Many businesses are hoping to build on this weekend's momentum and are staying optimistic that things will get better.
