Summer in the Center concert series opening in Carol Stream

Carol Stream residents have been dancing to free live music each summer for 15 years now, and that’s not about to change anytime soon.

The village’s Summer in the Center concert series will open with a performance by BBI, a soul, R&B and Motown group, at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7, under the gazebo at Ross Ferraro Town Center at the corner of Gary Avenue and Lies Road.

BBI has been performing for more than 20 years and features music by artists such as Prince, Etta James, the Temptations, the Supremes, Tina Turner, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and the Jackson 5.

The series continues at 7 p.m. on most Thursdays through mid-August, with performances featuring everything from jazz to classic rock.

Other bands will include Billy Croft and the 5 Alarm, Bed Medicine, Pirates over 40, Final Say, British Export and 25 or 6 to 4.

This year’s series also will feature a four-day carnival beginning June 21 and a July 4 fireworks display.

Chris Oakley, the assistant to the village manager, has been involved with the series since it was created.

“It all started with the constant complaint of nothing to do, or not a lot out here to see,” Oakley says. “I realized there was a lot of great entertainment out here in the suburbs that doesn’t need to be as expensive as seeing a show in Chicago.”

The event began as a four-day festival funded by the village, but officials began turning to corporate sponsors when the economy began to struggle and the weekly concert series was born.

“It’s rewarding to provide access to the arts like music to this community,” Oakley said.