ArtsQuest released a statement Thursday tallying its final estimates for Musikfest attendance this year, saying much better weather than 2013's rain-flooded Colonial Historical area kept visitors swelling the city's downtowns.

"This year Mother Nature truly shined on us, as we had the best weather in many years," says ArtsQuest President Jeff Parks. "The comfortable evenings and sunny skies on many days, coupled with the diverse festival lineup, led to excellent crowds on a number of days." He said the late cancellation of headliner ZZ Top hurt, but 345 other acts went on as scheduled and brought about 1.15 million people out into the community, up 15 percent from last year.

And even with the blues legends' absence, attendance at the Sands Steel Stage main stage, which featured artists such as Keith Urban, The Moody Blues, Steely Dan, Sheryl Crow, The Avett Brothers and Jason Derulo, was 46,919.

The largest free music festival in the country, Musikfest is made possible thanks to more than 1,800 volunteers, 2,100 supporting ArtsQuest members and 160 sponsors. bers and 160 sponsors. They enabled more than 500 free concerts on 14 stages and featured 63 local and national food vendors, as well as 45 artisans, free arts and crafts activities for children and the festival's first-ever summer camp Aug. 2, led by folk artist Daria. Volunteers came to lend a hand at the festival from as far away as California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee and Virginia.

"Musikfest gives Bethlehem the opportunity for 10 days to showcase our history, culture, restaurants and retail establishments," said Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez. "It is 10 days where people can enjoy all types of food, music and entertainment, while enjoying the many amenities Bethlehem has to offer. "Proceeds from Musikfest 2014 will go to support ArtsQuest's free programming for the community year-round at the Banana Factory community arts center and the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus. This includes Oktoberfest at SteelStacks on Oct. 3-5 and 10-12, which will be free for the first time in the event's history thanks to its presenting sponsor, D.G. Yuengling & Son.