The annual Music in the Park summer series is making preparations for its fourth season but needs more donations and sponsorships to have movies again this year.

"We must decide by May 1 whether to show the movies but we’ll take money anytime," said Deputy City Clerk Bobbie Usselman.

Music in the Park is held at the James Center for the Performing Arts just north of Carrie Blake Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.

The concerts are held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays, starting the fourth Tuesday in June and running to the second Tuesday in September. Sponsorship and donations pay for the movie costs, performance fees and stage rental.

The concert and movie series has many of the same sponsors as previous years but fundraising is going a little slowly this year, she said.

"We have not raised enough money yet to show movies and we might have enough for the music," she said.

Showing three movies during the 12-week-long series accounts for about $2,500 of the total $15,000 cost, she said.

Usselman said volunteers also are working to get bands scheduled for this summer’s concerts. Interested bands should submit a letter of interest and a CD of their music they would like to perform.

The popular summer series began in 2006 with 12 weeks of Tuesday night concerts. Then in 2007 a sizable donation covered the cost of adding three movies to the series.

"Jim Bay and Karen Kuznek-Reese worked together to start it because we have that beautiful band shell," Usselman said.

"It’s done totally by donation; no city funds are used.

"We haven’t heard yet from

our sponsors. We’re not sure what’s going to happen this year."

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.

Strike up the band

Concerts and, perhaps, movies will be offered 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday nights at the James Center for the Performing Arts beginning June 23 and running through Sept. 8. Movies are scheduled be shown on June 30, July 28 and Aug. 25.

For more information concerning sponsorship or donations, contact the City Clerk’s office at 683-4139.