Although the concerts began with a slow start, Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers President Micki Muir says that by the end of the fifth and final show, approximately 500 residents were coming out to enjoy the free live music on Thursday nights at the corner of Minnesota and Lincoln avenues.

But on that inaugural night "two women walked onto the field and they had shocked looks on their faces, probably because no one else was there," concert organizer Scott McDonald says. "I told them, 'Come on over—someone's got to be the first to arrive' and after that, more and more people began to show."

This year, the first concert in the Music in the Glen series was on July 10, and before the show was over, more than 100 residents had created a substantial crowd on the back lawn of Willow Glen Elementary.

Elaine Crail, an employee of Lincoln High School's career center, attended several concerts last year and plans to take in as many as her schedule will allow this year. Crail says it's especially enjoyable to live within walking distance of the concerts.

"This is a nice family atmosphere," Crail says. "Last year it was fun to get all my girlfriends together and come."

One of the main draws, besides the music, is the concert series atmosphere. The family-friendly venue is alcohol-free and provides an ideal setting for children to dance and play. Parents can relax during the show while their children run around on the grass because the concert is in a safe, relatively enclosed area.

McDonald, a Willow Glen resident, spearheaded the Music in the Glen concert series, modeling it after Campbell's successful summer series run by the Campbell Recreation and Community Services Department. For years, McDonald says, he drove to Campbell and enjoyed the concerts with his family. So he decided to take Campbell's winning formula and apply it to Willow Glen.

He contracted Campbell Recreation and Community Services Supervisor Barbara Jones, and with her help and the Willow Glen Kiwanis organizations, various sponsors and volunteers, McDonald put together a plan to kick off a concert series in Willow Glen.

Jones originally came up with the idea after visiting the Midwest.

"One time I drove through Iowa in the summer, and the concerts reminded me of that, a small-town community event," Jones says. "There's a really good feeling. People start arriving early in the afternoon and putting out their blankets and chairs. You'll see a lot of different generations."

She adds, "I am more than willing to help other communities start theirs and give them any information I have about contracts and how I work it. The only thing I've always asked of them is that they have it on a Thursday night because we have more people than we can handle right now."

Although Music in the Glen hasn't reached Campbell's attendance numbers, the annual event still calls for a fair amount of preparation.

"We work for about three months beforehand to get insurance and permits from the school and to get all the volunteers together," says McDonald. "It sounds like a big job, but it really isn't too difficult."

He adds, "We ask $1,000 per sponsor. I don't think it's that much money, and the money goes to promote community goodwill."

Sponsors this year include Edward Jones Investments, Aqui Cal-Mex, Peak Travel, Realtor Michael Ortegon, the Willow Glen branch of USBank, Creative Security Concepts Inc., and the Willow Glen Resident.

Along with helping organize the event, the Kiwanis organizations also provide a sizeable group of volunteers to sell grilled hotdogs, fresh popcorn, salty pretzels and soda. All food and beverages are sold for a small fee, and profits support Willow Glen Elementary School and Kiwanis community activities.

During the first concert of the summer, the audience was treated to music by the Blowkings, an 11-piece band. The July 10 performance offered a diverse musical repertoire, from songs by Paul Simon to Metallica to the Violent Femmes. Youth and even some adults were dancing to the spirited songs played by the band.

The band encouraged audience involvement throughout the show. They chose a listener from the crowd to repeatedly shout a Tarzan-inspired yell during the George of the Jungle song and weaved through the audience during a song about snakes. The band even changed a New Kids on the Block song called "You've Got the Right Stuff" into a tribute to Oreo cookies.

The purple-clad band visibly enjoyed playing creative covers of a wide range of songs and provided humorous anecdotes between tunes.

But becoming part of next year's lineup might be difficult for new musical groups, McDonald says. Many bands have already inquired about joining next year's series, and McDonald has a list of contacts through Jones.

And as word continues to spread, the organizers are hoping the crowds will continue to grow, with the summer series becoming one of the community's mainstays.

The Music in the Glen concert series is held Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Willow Glen Elementary School, located on the corner of Minnesota and Lincoln avenues. Concerts continue through Aug. 7. Free parking is available in the Willow Glen Elementary School parking lots. For more information, call 408.998.3045.