STAMFORD — Stamford Downtown’s StrEateries program, with its expanded outdoor dining, has returned for another season.

The Stamford Downtown Special Services District and the city of Stamford partnered to bring back the initiative, which was launched last year in response to the COVID-19 crisis. StrEATeries adds more than 1,000 outdoor dining seats to accommodate visitors to downtown Stamford for dining and shopping.

The program returned on April, just in time for diners to enjoy the outdoor seating on Easter Sunday. It will continue into late fall.

Restaurant patios will extend into parking spaces on Bedford Street, Summer Street, Lower Summer Street, Atlantic Street, Bank Street and Main Street. The parking lot between Bedford and Forest streets will be closed for the season.

The Bedford Street Piazza, a portion of the parking area behind Bedford Street near the Bedford Street Garage, will be transformed into a massive outdoor dining patio featuring some of Stamford Downtown’s best restaurants.

Diners are asked to respect posted guidelines, observe social distancing, and wear a mask at all times when not seated and eating. For more info, go to www.stamford-downtown.com.