Looking for something fun to do on lazy summer days and warm evenings? The Astoria Parks and Recreation Department has the answer. They’ve put together a series of free outdoor concerts, movies, games and treats that will appeal to the whole family.

“We’re brand new, we’re reinventing ourselves,” explained Pam Pearce, the parks department’s recreation coordinator. She said park staff came up with ideas for free summer fun during a brainstorm focus group with interim director JP Moss. “Enriching generations of community” is the parks department’s new tagline or motto. “It’s really true. It’s really coming together,” Pearce said.

A highlight of the new summer schedule has been the free concerts by local bands. They’re scheduled every Wednesday during July at noon in the downtown plaza and at 6 p.m. at Fred Lindstrom (Peter Pan) Park at Seventh Street and Niagara Avenue. The first one attracted a crowd of about 50 people, Pearce said. The crowd swelled to 150 for the second concert.

The third free concert is this week. Bringing their folk/blue grass repertoire to the free series Wednesday are the Brownsmead Flats, five local guys who’ve been performing throughout the region for more than 20 years. The group has released four recordings. Dan Sutherland is featured on the hammered dulcimer, mandolin and fiddle. Ray Raihala picks banjo, guitar and mandolin. Robert Stevens plays the guitar and banjo. John Fenton is on bass and mandolin and Ned Heavenrich plays harmonica. The whole family will enjoy foot-stomping sing-along fun at both performances of the Brownsmead Flats this Wednesday.

On tap at noon and 6 p.m. July 28 is Jason Lambert, an acoustic guitarist who writes and sings his own songs. Lambert grew up in Astoria and returned to the coast in 2003. He released his first album in 2007. A guitar and bass teacher in Astoria, Lambert has played at many Astoria-area venues, and has donated his time at several local benefits.

Free summer movies at Lindstrom Park start Aug. 9 and continue every Monday evening through Aug. 30. All four movies in the series were filmed in Astoria. First up is “Free Willy,” followed by “Short Circuit” on Aug. 16, “The Goonies” on Aug. 23 and “Kindergarten Cop” on Aug. 30. Pearce, the recreation coordinator, said the city is purchasing a “ginormous” screen to show them on. She said the screen will be set up by a big tree in the center of the park and the audience can relax on the grassy hillside, and enjoy pop, popcorn, candy bars and Sno-cones for a “minimal fee.” The movies will start at dusk, around 8:30 p.m.

Other free summer events include Family Game Night at 6 p.m. July 28 at the Astoria Yacht Club, 1555 W. Marine Drive. It will feature board games and cards as well as badminton, volleyball, horseshoes and tag.

Kids’ Day! starts at noon Aug. 21 at Lindstrom Park, with skee ball, face painting and lots of other fun activities.

? For more information go to (www.astoriaparks.com) or phone (503) 325-PARK (7275).