A combination of good weather and popular local talent helped make this year’s Kirkland Summer Concerts at Juanita Beach Park and Marina Park one of the most successful, according to organizers.

The concerts, which finished up this week with performances by Caspar Babypants and Prom Queen, are put on through a partnership between the Downtown Kirkland Association (DKA) and the Kirkland Performance Center (KPC).

“Honestly, it’s been really well received by the community,” said DKA Event Manager Barbie Collins Young. “It’s been really the most successful thing we’ve done. We’re really glad to see how well received it’s been.”

Some of the concerts have seen record attendance, drawing anywhere between 500-1,000 attendees.  Among the performers have been Mycle Wastman a finalist on the “The Voice,” Abbagraphs, an Abba tribute band, Bobby Medina, Kirkland electric violinist Geoffrey Castle, Long Stride and Creme Tangerine. The kids concerts, managed by organizer Julie Metteer, have featured Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth, Johnny Bregar Recess Monkey, the Brian Waite Band, Brian Vogan and his Good Buddies and The Not It’s.

“Every piece of lawn in Marina Park has someone on it,” she said. “We’ve never had attendance like that before. The kids concerts have been incredibly well received and attended. It’s been smooth. We just need a bigger park.”

The success, particularly with donations, has been a positive change in fortune, Young said, compared to the beginning of the season when the financial costs proved a challenge.

“We (also) have sponsors step up in the community, and they have come through to bridge our gaps,” she said.

Another thing that has benefited the concert is the consistently warm weather.

“Every Thursday night…the most beautiful place on earth is in Kirkland on the water with live music,” she said. “That’s a natural draw for people. Everybody is so happy.”

With the KPC handling the evening concerts, Executive Director Jeff Lockhart said they picked shows they knew would resonate well with the community, as well as feature groups that would normally play at the KPC. That way, he said, they would be able to bring exposure to a wider audience.

“This was a way to stay connected to the community and bring our programming out to the street,” he said.

Creme Tangerine, a Beatles tribute band featuring Lockhart on drums, drew a crowd of around 2,000 during its Aug. 6 performance, aided in part by tourists visiting Kirkland as part of a local cruise line.

“It was cool because we’re from Kirkland, it’s our home town,” Lockhart said. “We’ve been at it for 12 years, but as a musician, as an artist, its an honor to connect with people.”

“It’s really high quality people that we have, so that made a big difference,” Young said. “We also had a great staff of volunteers that also makes a big difference. I think it’s probably one of the community’s favorite events, and I’m sure the restaurants and bars also benefit greatly from it.”