The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge, will open its 2021 summer season at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Karl L. King Memorial Park located downtown at the City Square.

The King Band Board has decided to relocate these concerts, at least during June, to allow band members to distance themselves more from each other in front of the library during this time of caution regarding COVID-19.

Audience members can bring lawn chairs and sit socially distanced in the park, or they can remain in their cars to listen and park around three sides of the square and then honk their car horns as applause. There will be no ice cream social provided during June, and there will be no public restrooms available at any time during the evening.

These concerts are free to all, and are provided as a public service by the city of Fort Dodge. Directing the band again this season will be Jerrold P. Jimmerson, with Dan Cassady serving as the assistant conductor, and Paul Bloomquist as announcer.

This opening concert of the season will include music in keeping with the Frontier Days celebration in Fort Dodge during the weekend. Marches will be the main part of this first concert. Scheduled to be performed will be “Yellowstone Trail” and “Gallant Zouaves,” both written by the band’s namesake, Karl L. King, along with Sammy Nestico’s march, “Vaquero,” and John Philip Sousa’s classic, “The Black Horse Troop.”

Other compositions by Karl King will included his ragtime selection, “Kentucky Sunrise,” and one of his classic circus gallops, “Rough Riders.”

Two collections of familiar Early American folk songs will be performed during the evening and will include “Second American Folk Rhapsody” and “Kentucky 1800,” both arranged for band by Clare Grundman.

On the lighter side will be music from popular western movies and television shows with “They Went Thataway” and a beautiful song depicting the majesty of the Pacific Northwest with “The Far Country.” In addition, highlights from the popular Broadway musical and motion picture, “Paint Your Wagon,” will be heard.

Each concert always closes in the traditional way, with the playing of the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In case of inclement weather, the concert may be canceled.