The Dartmouth Community Band will kick off its summer season on July 1 at 5 p.m. at the Russells Mills Schoolhouse with a concert to celebrate America’s birthday.

The annual tradition, which dates back to when the schoolhouse used to be a library, will include plenty of patriotic music to get into the Independence Day spirit. A picnic will also be held, which begins at 4:15 p.m. It will be held at 1205 Russells Mills Road.

The Dartmouth Community Band’s summer season also begins in July. Concerts are hosted every Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in July and August at Apponagansett Park on Gulf Road, and are free to attend.

The community band is under the direction of John Furtado and Max Kane. Regular shows include lineups of music from John Phillips Souza, John Williams, Irving Berlin, Steven Foster, and others in a varied spectrum of genres.

Members of the Dartmouth High School band, both current former and present, are also members of the all-volunteer band.