Dunkirk’s summer tradition gets under way tonight, but it is not in ideal conditions. Singer-songwriter Max Muscato and headliner In Crowd will perform for the Music on the Pier Summer Concert Series on the pier stage to begin the weekend’s Fired Up For Summer Kickoff.

Music begins at 5:25 p.m. and the pier will be closed to traffic at 2 p.m. Guests are reminded to bring a chair.

In addition to the music, there will be one more addition to the weekend. The city of Dunkirk and Dunkirk Professional Firefighters Local 616 will host the 2023 Dunkirk Firefighter Hose Race on Friday starting at 6 p.m. by the Boardwalk. DJ Joe Gould will provide the tunes with the awards ceremony and The New Direction Band playing polka music on the pier stage at 7:45 p.m.

One potential concern of this event, however, is the haze caused by the Canadian wildfires that has overtaken the skies of the northeast coast. In addition, forecasters note there could be some rain in the forecast.

There will be plenty to celebrate across the region this summer. We’re hoping all is well for the start tonight.