"We were a little disappointed when we came last week," said Ken Shoemaker, who regularly attends the concerts with his wife, Patty. "But we understood the weather earlier in the day was unpredictable so the organizers had to make a decision."

The five-week concert series kicked off on July 7 with Flashback, a group of retired police officers who specialize in tunes from the 1960s and '70s, and was followed up the following week by Mark Russo and The Classy Cats. The Hitmen played July 28 with the Joe Sharino Band slated for Aug. 4.

The Joe Sharino Band usually ends the concert series, but because of the weather on July 21, an additional date of Aug. 11 was added to give Sage an opportunity to make up for the rain cancellation.

"We love it," said Suzette Noble, who regularly attends with her daughters Kylee, 7, and Kristy, 5. "It's wonderful to be able to walk from our house and we always run into friends and neighbors."

The Willow Glen Kiwanis Sunrisers began organizing the free concerts in 2002 as a benefit to the community and to raise awareness about the community service work they do.

"Our motto is serving the children of the world," member Jim Crownover said. "We are an 80-year-old organization with more than 350,000 members worldwide and in 80 different geographic areas."

At first the concerts drew small crowds but momentum is growing as word gets out.

"Last year we had about 100 people at the first concert and on this year's opening night we had a crowd of about 250 people," Crownover said. "Typically the crowds build with each week of the series. For the July 14 show we had about 400 people."

"The line-up is different every year and we typically try to include a new band for variety," Hobart Higuchi, Kiwanis chairman, said. "But we always want to make sure to include the old favorites that people like to see."

Through the support of sponsors such as the Willow Glen Resident, Peak Travel, Edward Jones, Mike Ortega, US Bank and Aqui Cal-Mex Grill, to name a few, the organization is able to pay the performers while keeping the event free to the public.

"The local business community is very supportive," Higuchi said.

Residents enjoy the feeling of community that is generated by the concerts.

The family-friendly event is alcohol-free and, though picnic dinners are welcome, the Kiwanis club does sell hot dogs, Polish sausages, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, soda and water. Proceeds from the sales are redirected back to the community.

For 8-year-old Shannon White, the draw is the food.

"I like the music," White said, "but I come for the hot dogs and popcorn."

The concerts take place on the grounds of Willow Glen Elementary School. There is plenty of free parking as well as space for children to run around.

"It's a great family event," said Gretchen White, Shannon White's mother. "The adults can get together and talk while the kids run themselves ragged in a mostly enclosed, relatively safe area."

The music starts at 6:30 p.m. and ends promptly at 8 p.m.

"We are very conscious to stop at 8 so we don't disturb the neighbors," Hobart said.

Music in the Glen is held on Thursday evenings. The last concert is on Aug. 11.