Mata Curran was president of the Palmerton Concourse Club when she saw a picture of the Palmerton Park bandstand, dilapidated and in desperate need of repair.

The borough was gearing up to celebrate its 75th anniversary. But when Curran saw the photo of the bandstand featured on an anniversary pamphlet, she couldn’t help but notice the neglect.

“I looked at that picture and I thought ‘why didn’t they use that money to rebuild the bandstand’? There was a lot of stuff that went on in the park,” Curran said.

Around that same time, Curran attended a convention for women’s clubs, which took place in Bethlehem.

“The one thing I came home with was that every president should have a project,” she said. “When I got home, the picture of the bandstand was sitting on our counter, and I thought ‘that’s it. That’s my project.’ ”

So, Curran started a bandstand committee (she still co-chairs that committee today, alongside Joanne Kercsmar.)

John Kasten, a former Palmerton borough manager who died in 2013, advised Curran to write a letter to the community detailing her plan to restore the bandstand, so other residents could be involved in its restoration.

Not long after, Curran had $7,000 for the project. Shea’s Hardware donated paint, sealer, stain and other supplies, and starting in the spring of 1989, community members spent every Saturday morning bringing the bandstand back to its original glory. The floor was redone, spindles were replaced and a zinc-coated, copper roof was installed.

“The whole town got behind it,” Curran said.

To celebrate the newly-refurbished bandstand, the town put on a one-night concert that summer.

This year marks the 30th rendition of that event.

On Sunday, Palmerton will host its first of 12 summer concerts, held every Sunday evening in the Palmerton Park on Delaware Avenue. The concerts draw thousands to the borough each year, and thanks to donations from local organizations and residents, are free to attend.

Food trucks will be brought in for one evening in June, July and August to celebrate the series’ 30th anniversary.

“We’re hoping it brings a lot of people out,” Carol Curcio, Palmerton Concourse Club president, said.

“I’ve only been here (in Palmerton) for three years,” Curcio said. “What attracted me to here was the sense of community and the charm, and I think something like a summer concert series is so charming, and so important for people to gather together.

“It keeps traditions alive that aren’t necessarily kept alive in many of the little towns around,” she said.

Here’s the 2019 schedule for Palmerton’s Annual Concerts in the Park. Each concert starts at 7 p.m.

June 2: Palmerton Band

June 9: Perseverance Jazz Band

June 16: Who Knows

June 23: Steel Creek

June 30: Palmerton Band, food truck night

July 7: Large Flowerheads

July 14: Sunshine Symphony

July 21: Marine Band of Allentown, food truck night

July 28: New Individuals

August 4: The Pennsylvania Villagers

August 11: Hazleton Band, food truck night

August 21: Palmerton Band

For information on donating toward future concerts, email Palmerton Concourse Club at concourseclub@gmail.com.