It was an especially happy New Year’s Eve for Mary Mortier, director of the annual New Year’s By The Bay community event. Sunday afternoon, an exhausted Mortier proclaimed that the nonprofit organization had made enough money to cover its expenses, and then some.

“We are in the black,” she proclaimed. “Yee, haw!”

Mortier estimated attendance at the ninth annual New Year’s Eve event, which features musicians and other performers at various venues around downtown throughout the evening, at between 1,800 and 2,000.

“It’s all about the weather,” she said.

The last two or three years, TV news reports featured “hysterical forecasts” in their five-day predictions, even though the reality was warm and dry weather for two of those New Year’s Eves, at least in Belfast, Mortier said.

But forecasts warning of ice often put a chill on ticket sales.

This year, cold but dry weather was forecast, and sales were steady, she said. Two days before the event, as the forecast held, sales increased dramatically. New Year’s By The Bay charges $15 for adults, $5 for students and admits children under 5 for free.

A dozen performers saw full or nearly full venues, she said. “There was a tremendous amount of focus,” on the part of audiences, as full houses raised the energy level, Mortier said.

Among those getting good audience buzz was Scot Canon, a mime who recently bought a house in Belfast. Mortier said both his shows at the Colonial Theatre filled the 100-seat auditorium.

Also popular were the David Dodson Trio, the bluegrass of the Katahdin Valley Boys, McFravis Family Fiddlers, Steelin’ Thunder, Bel Isle Jazz Quartet, Jennifer Armstrong, Mom’s Home Cookin’, and Jim James and Friends. The last act will likely be moved to a bigger venue next year, she said, judging from audience feedback.

And American Indian flutist Hawk Henries, performing to a reverent audience at the First Church, continued to be a crowd favorite.

“He’s the one performer who’s been back each of the nine years,” Mortier said, because audience surveys show strong support for his presence. Normally, she likes to rotate performers off the schedule after three consecutive years.

Joanne Bark of Belfast, while on her way to see Henries Saturday night with her family, said this year was her first time attending the event.

“There seems to be lots of community spirit floating around,” she said.

Dick and Annie Cilley of Belmont were also first-timers. The couple recently moved from the island of Islesboro, making it easier to attend.

“We’re having a good time,” Annie Cilley said, as they departed from a performance by the steel drum and percussion group Steelin’ Thunder.

Isaac Hoey of Searsmont and several of his high-school-aged friends were also first-timers, and gave the event thumbs-up.

Laini Kertesz of Freedom and her 9-year-old son Zoli have attended each year. Laini said she remembers carrying Zoli around the first year, when bitter cold winds whipped the streets.

“I like that it’s family friendly,” she said, while playing a game with Zoli at Scoops Ice Cream Shop. The two also gave Steelin’ Thunder high marks.

Roger Lee of Belfast attended for the fourth time.

“I love it. It’s great,” he said, especially the David Dodson Trio. His fears that the quality of performers would drop were quickly allayed, he added.

For the event to continue into its next decade, Mortier stressed, more volunteer energy and enthusiasm is needed. She gave a big tip of her hat to the volunteer board of directors of the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce who stepped up to make the 2005 version of the event a reality.

“We did better financially this year,” Mortier said, even though corporate donations were down.