The Lansford Alive committee will resume its summer concert series, “music in the park” on Sunday after a year off due to COVID-19.

The program will be celebrating its eighth year with concerts held at the gazebo in the John F. Kennedy Park, located at the west end of the borough next to the Panther Valley football stadium. The concerts run from 6 to 8 p.m.

Concerts are scheduled for each Sunday from June through the end of August. Admission is free and refreshments will be sold with all proceeds from the concession stand sales used to benefit the revitalization of the park.

The Lansford Alive Committee is chaired by Marie Ondrus and the co-chairman is Beth Seymour. Members of the committee include Theresea Papa and Mary Bittle. Last year the committee lost a vital member, Irma Leibensperger. She and Ondrus came up with the idea for the concerts in the park.

To honor Leibensperger, the committee has decided to dedicate the entire summer season of concerts in her memory as a tribute to her many years of service.

One improvement project for the park, which Leibensperger supported, was a new roof on the gazebo, which was accomplished last year. Lansford borough provided the funding, local contractor BJ Berk, a Lansford native, replaced the cedar shingle roofing on the gazebo and Panther Valley Lumber provided the materials at cost. The borough also installed new lighting.

Since 2014 the committee, using profits from the concession stand sales and public donations and borough funding, have made numerous improvements in the park over the years. Included was the removal of all of the dead or decaying trees and shrubbery and updating of the electrical system in the park. Park benches were painted and garbage cans added to keep the park clean.

The committee also renovated the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company coal car back to its original form with the help of students from the Carbon Career and Technical Institute in Jim Thorpe.

Future projects include purchasing of new park benches to increase seating at the concerts.

The public is reminded to bring a lawn chair or a blanket for their personal comfort at the concerts and to follow all current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

The concert schedule for 2021 follows:

June 6, The Rehrig Brothers, Walnutport, ‘Ol Time Country Classics; June 13, The Boys Upstairs, Pottsville, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s radio hits; June 20, The Shorelines, Ashland, polka music classics; June 27, Two Four One, Hazleton, ‘Ol time rock ’n’ roll.

July 4, Tammy G, Lansford, ’50s and ’60s music; July 11, The M&J Big Band, Cressona, big band sound; July 18, The Fat Cats, Pottsville, acoustic classic rock; July 25, Vinyl Persuasion, Allentown, British invasion ’60s and ’70s.

Aug. 1, Darren Frehuler, Lehighton, acoustic pop and rock; Aug. 8, Six To Midnight, Tamaqua, classic rock, Americana; Aug. 15, Toolshed Jack Duo, Tamaqua, Steve and Brian, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s; Aug. 22, Gunslinger Band, Bowmanstown, country rock, rock-a-billy; and Aug. 29, Richie Molinaro and Mr. Lou, Hazleton, legendary rock ’n’ roll.