Photo by Doug Hanes Pictured is the E.M. Cotter Fireboat, which will be in Dunkirk this weekend.

Summer is rolling in and Dunkirk is excited to welcome the season to its beautiful waterfront community along Lake Erie. A variety of exciting family-friendly events are lined up for the upcoming months.

Mayor Wilfred Rosas and the city of Dunkirk offers a special thanks to the Summer 2022 Platinum Level Sponsors – DFT Communications and Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. National Grid is the overall stage sponsor.

The Dunkirk Flea Market, organized by Brian Meyer, will be held through Sept. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Route 5 and Washington Avenue parking lot. To become a vendor, please contact Meyer at 716-680-0958.

The Dunkirk Farmers Market, sponsored by Refresco, starts today and will continue every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dunkirk Senior Center located on the corner of Ruggles Street and Cliffstar Court.

The award-winning Music on the Pier Summer Concert Series makes its return this week for 12 weeks (Thursdays through Aug. 25). The event features fantastic tunes, Arthur R. Gren/Southern Tier Brewery beers, Merrit Winery wine slushies and other concession vendors on the Dunkirk Pier and in Memorial Park. The following is a lineup of opening (5:25 p.m.) and headliner (6:45 p.m.) bands with September 1 and 8 marked as rain dates:

Thursday — Recess/Wanted: The Bon Jovi Tribute Band sponsored by Molina Healthcare Inc.

June 16 — The Freeze/Nickel City Pimp Choir sponsored by KeyBank

June 23 – Feverhawk/Furious George sponsored by Agricultural Transportation

June 30 – Pedro and the Smooth Cats/Carl Dixon and the Last Buffalo sponsored by Lawley Insurance

July 7 – Trifecta/Jersey – The Bruce Springsteen Tribute

July 14 – DTO/Uncle Ben’s Remedy sponsored by Graf Realty Corporation

July 21 – Zen City/Aftermath: Experience the Sixties sponsored by Owl Homes of Fredonia

July 28 – Ion Sky/Revolver

Aug. 4 – Reset 2 Vinyl/The Breeze sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank

Aug. 11 – The Untouchables/The Chicago Authority sponsored by Farrell Roofing

Aug. 18 – Bucked Up/Two For Flinching sponsored by Refresco

Aug. 25 – Yachtfathers/Nerds Gone Wild sponsored Nestle Purina

The Fired Up For Summer Kickoff event from Thursday to Saturday is Dunkirk’s first big event of Summer 2022 starting with Thursday’s Music on the Pier. The event will feature the E.M. Cotter Fireboat of Buffalo sponsored by Spike Dailey’s, Off The Hook, Exempt Fireman’s Association and Heenan’s Irish Pub.

The E.M. Cotter Fireboat, 118-foot long weighing close to 200 tons, is both a 15,000 gallon/min fireboat and an icebreaker. Built in 1900, it has undergone a couple of major renovations but is believed to be the oldest still in service fireboat and possibly the world’s oldest active service piece of firefighting equipment.

Fireboat tours will continue through Saturday evening. The Dunkirk Firemen Hose Races hosted by the Dunkirk Professional Firefighters Local 616 take place that Friday night at 6 p.m. by the Dunkirk Boardwalk followed by race winner awards, a special recognition and the Smokehouse band playing in Memorial Park at 7:45 p.m.

On Saturday, the Dunkirk Pier will host fire trucks and food trucks from 12 noon to 5 p.m. along with a corn hole tournament hosted by Blazin Bags Cornhole. Midnight Recovery will provide live music followed by “Playing with Fire” outdoor movie with El Rigby Theater at Memorial Park starting at 6 p.m.

Next week, The 26th annual Juneteenth Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, June 18 from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 19 from noon to 6 p.m. at Memorial Park featuring music, food, African dancing, poetry slam, cornhole tournament, kid’s tent and gospel.