Like an adoring parent, Janie Cribbs can sound a little sentimental when reflecting on the growth of the Oak Harbor Music Festival.

In the four years since she first performed in Oak Harbor’s signature music event, she has watched the stage grow, the crowds increase and the interest soar among bands in the Pacific Northwest wanting to be part of the lineup.

“I would say all of us from Whidbey really feel a sense of pride,” said Cribbs, lead vocalist for Whidbey-based Janie Cribbs And The T.Rust Band. “It’s our festival. Other people come from other places and say that Oak Harbor is beautiful. It’s an incredible venue. There are two huge stages.

“I think there’s a lot of pride. We feel like we built it.”

Cribbs’ group is one of several bands from the island who will be part of the lineup playing in the fifth Oak Harbor Music Festival, Sept. 2-4, downtown.

More than 30 bands in all will be onstage for the free three-day event, which drew 17,000 people last year after 15,000 in 2014, which doubled attendance from 2013.

Cribbs, from Coupeville, has been on stage every year since the event kicked off in 2012 with one small stage and a different name. The first year, it was called the Oak Harbor Music and Jazz Festival.

“No one really knew what it was the first year,” Cribbs said.

But since then, it’s started building a name on the regional music scene and, in some cases, beyond.

“What I’m proud of is our reputation across the country,” said Larry Mason, a singer and guitar player with the group, Broken Banjo, and event organizer in charge of securing the bands. “People have heard about our festival and want to play it. I’m still getting flooded with emails from bands that want to play in the festival. I’m not talking about Whidbey Island. I’m talking about bands across the United States.”

Why Oak Harbor?

“One thing, Larry is a musician,” Cribbs said. “We’re treated like royalty. We have a place to park and to unload on stage. There’s a green room. Food and beverages are supplied.

“Everyone is equal. It doesn’t matter if you’re a little band or a big band.”

Mason’s biggest grab this year is Penguin Prison, labeled as an “electropop project” composed solely of New York singer, musician and remixer Chris Glover.

Mason was looking for a headliner when one of the board member’s daughters raved about Glover after having seen him in concert.

An email to Glover’s booking agent in Chicago led to a deal.

“I’m stoked to have Penguin Prison on our stage,” Mason said. “They booked a tour around us. They’re playing in Denver on Thursday night, Seattle on Friday and Oak Harbor on Saturday.”

Other headliners include L.A. Edwards, a San Diego band making a West Coast tour; and Spokane-based Too Slim And The Taildraggers

Popular regional bands that are returning include Tacoma’s The Fame Riot, LeRoy Bell & His Only Friends and Ayron Jones And The Way.

“I’m really, really excited,” Mason said. “It’s going to be a great festival. We have a great group of people playing. There’s a lot of original music. There are just some very talented musicians coming to this town.”

Other bands playing at the festival that call Whidbey home include Western Heroes, The Hot Tub Club of Troy, Nathaniel Talbot, Original Jim, Scotty Jay, Seanotes and Last Sunday.

“I would say it’s gaining a reputation of not only the best (festival) on the island but the best in the Northwest,” Cribbs said. “It’s run so well compared to every festival I’ve ever gone to and I’m even talking about Ireland.

“All the musicians are clamoring to play in this.”

For the festival’s entire music lineup and schedule, go to www.oakharborfestival.com