Pleasanton's popular Concerts in the Park entertainment series is set to be back in downtown beginning this week and running most Friday evenings through August.

Organized by the Pleasanton Downtown Association, the free concerts typically draw hundreds of residents with lawn chairs and blankets in tow to Lions Wayside Park and adjacent Delucchi Park for a night of music, dancing, food and drink. The program is back in its familiar Friday slot after being canceled in 2020 and moved to Sunday afternoons in 2021 amid the pandemic.

"We are thrilled to welcome Concerts in the Park back on Friday nights. For decades, our community has gathered in downtown for live music and fun and it is very meaningful to be able to provide this opportunity for our friends and neighbors to gather once again," Interim Executive Director Laura Brooks told the Weekly.

The 2022 series will still be a bit different than normal.

The concert dates exclude the first Friday of each month in light of the First Weekends on Main program that runs on those dates. Also, the stage area has a new look as the longtime wooden bandstand in Lions Wayside Park was demolished this spring due to structural issues.

"The bands will be performing in the same location. Only the bandstand wooden structure was removed leaving the elevated concrete platform in place," city communications manager Barbara Harb said. "The city installed additional lighting and temporary fencing surrounding the existing platform for this season's concert performances."

Playing the first concert is Retroactive, known for high-energy dance music. Like with all of the shows, the band this Friday (June 10) will take the stage at 7 p.m. and perform until 8:30 p.m.

Admission is free and attendees can set out blankets and chairs in either Lions Wayside or Delucchi parks to watch the concerts while enjoying food and drink to-go from downtown restaurants or brought from home. The PDA will also be holding raffles for prizes during the series.

Blankets or chairs can be put out at people's own risk starting at 7 a.m. on concert day. PDA officials reminded residents that they cannot use rocks to hold down blankets because of potential damage to lawn-mowing equipment, and the use of plastic tarps, which can burn the grass, is also prohibited.

The rest of the concert lineup is: The Megatones (rock covers) on June 17, The Shanks (classic rock) on June 24, The Cool Tones (big band jazz and R&B) on July 8, The Dustbowl Travelers (acoustic and classic rock) on July 15, Burton & Co. (R&B) on July 22, The 925 Band (dance covers) on July 29, Audio Illusion (rock/pop/blues) on Aug. 12, Jeff Rickets & the Dirt Road Band (country and gospel roots) on Aug. 19 and Public Eye (rock) on Aug. 26.