The Circle K Tempe Music Festival rocked a mile of Tempe Beach Park in front of the largest crowd in its seven-year history this weekend, marking the halfway milestone for Mayor Hugh Hallman’s goal of “two miles of music and so much more” in Tempe.

“Friday night with Kid Rock was the single best day for the festival of all time,” said festival spokeswoman Alison Bailin.

The southern rock headliner attracted around 15,000 people to the park, she said.

“And all the VIP tickets sold out this year,” Bailin said. “That has never happened before.”

Although final numbers are not yet in, Bailin estimated that between 25,000 and 30,000 attended the two-day event, which featured an eclectic lineup of indie and mainstream rock groups.

A large variety of vendors and sponsors set up all over the park, giving concertgoers options for activities between sets.

Ben and Jerry’s handed out serving-sized samples of ice cream, and NYPD Pizza gave patrons a chance to “sing for their supper” with a karaoke machine.

Guests could also play Guitar Hero, which has Tempe Music Festival performer Tom Morello as a character option.

“I was glad the vendors were able to come up with creative ideas instead of just passing out keychains or something,” Bailin said.

Southern Comfort, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Corona and Budweiser peddled mixed drinks and beer. The popularity of these tents was evident as concertgoers carried two drinks at a time back to their places in the pit.

“They were a beer drinking crowd, and the beer vendors were actually doing cartwheels they were so excited with the turnout and sales,” Bailin said.

The Red Bull Wake Lab was also a heavily frequented spot as professional and local wakeboarders competed against each other on the floating skate park.

“We were surprised by all the national attention we got for the Red Bull Wake Lab,” Bailin said.

The festival began at 4:30 p.m. on Friday with Pop Evil, Cowboy Mouth and Outlaws.

Local favorite Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers then took the stage and serenaded fans with its signature southwestern sound.

Clyne also played the King of the Hill theme song, which he wrote, and “Bandito,” his 1996 hit single with The Refreshments.

The relaxed beach setting changed drastically when 1999’s “Bawitdaba” began to blare from the speakers before Kid Rock took the stage in a cowboy hat and Buddy Holly glasses.

Rock was as rowdy as ever, with the exception of a moment he took to read a letter sent to him by a fan on the back of an Arizona license plate.

The letter was from a young woman who said she was transformed to a more open-minded and loving person during one of Rock’s shows.

Saturday began at noon with Red Letter Drive, Wensday, Tongue Dried Sun, Telescope, Vayden, Shiny Toy Guns and Mutemath.

Tom Morello, formerly of Rage Against The Machine, then played a rowdy set packed with expletives before closing his set with a full version of “This Land Is Your Land.”

The crowd excitedly sang along and jumped up and down at Morello’s request.

After a brief set by the high school winner of the SRP Garage Band Competition, The All-American Rejects took the stage to play a bevy of Top 40 hits for a mostly college-aged audience.

Multiplatinum rock group 3 Doors Down closed out the night with a long set and encore of its breakout single, “Kryptonite.”

The festival is already booked for the same weekend next year, and Bailin said fans can expect a “good old fashioned rock-n-roll festival” year after year.

“You know how the FBR Open is the greatest show on grass?” Bailin said. “Well, we want to be the greatest show on a manmade lake.”

Reach the reporter at melanie.kiser@asu.edu.