Starting July 3, free outdoor concerts will be staged at parks and plazas across ÐÔÊӽ紫ý during the city's annual .

In July and August, 90-minute concerts are planned every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The nine-concert series aims to encourage residents and visitors "to connect with the outdoors and celebrate music, fostering an engaged and healthy community," with jazz, rock, R&B and other sounds.

Up first, on July 3 at Clayton Community Centre,  is a Toronto-based band that fuses '70s disco, '90s R&B and high-energy funk for a dance-focused show.

Concert-goers can bring chairs and blankets for seating, no tickets or pre-registration required. ), including featured performers and openers. The full schedule:

• The Free Label at Clayton Community Centre, July 3 

• Leo D.E Johson at Glades Woodland Garden, July 10 

• Music City Showcase at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Civic Plaza, July 17 

• Ben Dunnill at Francis Park, July 24 

• Hayley Wallis at Museum of ÐÔÊӽ紫ý, July 31 

• Get Back Unplugged at Darts Hill Garden Park, Aug. 7 

• Bad Mny at ÐÔÊӽ紫ý Civic Plaza, Aug. 14 

• Mikey Jose at Unwin Park, Aug. 21 

• Francis Baptiste at Bear Creek Park, Aug. 28 

Also this summer, community picnics are planned at various sites across ÐÔÊӽ紫ý starting July 4 at Cloverdale Athletic Park. Held Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the picnics are also planned at Unwin, Hawthorne, Holly Park, Beaver Creek Heights and other parks. .