Visitors to downtown Portsmouth can sit back and relax or dance until dusk on Saturday nights this summer. Pro Portsmouth kicked off its annual Summer in the Street music series with a set from local blues group T.J. Wheeler and the Smokers on June 26. The series will continue with outdoor shows each week on Pleasant Street.

Now in its eighth year, Summer in the Street opens a portion of Market Square to pedestrians only from 5 to 9:30 p.m. every Saturday night through Aug. 7 (except July 3, when the city will hold its fireworks display). Guests are invited to bring their own chairs and snacks and listen to live music from local bands, beginning at 5:30.

Next up in the series are local folk musicians Jeff Warner and Bruce McIntyre, who will play seafaring tunes on July 10. For a full schedule of subsequent shows, visit www.proportsmouth.org.