Strawberry shortcake, big band tunes and kids chasing each other on the lawn made for a picturesque opening to the Mattapoisett Town Band concert season on Tuesday, July 10.

Conductor James Farmer, who is also Old Rochester Regional Junior High’s music director, said he’s been organizing the band for 15 years.

The band has about 45 members, who include a 90-year-old musician from Dartmouth and students from the high school.

“I’m really pleased this year to have had quite a few new members,” said Farmer.

Not only is the event a family friendly one, but Farmer said the band itself is a “family affair.”

“We have a number of families that participate,” he said, from grandparents to grandkids.

As the audience spooned strawberry shortcake from the Mattapoisett Lions Club, Farmer lead the band in patriotic numbers, show tunes and sing-a-long songs.

As per tradition, in the middle of the program kids were given batons and invited to try their hand at conducting a musical number with Farmer.

Concerts are held at Shipyard Park every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. through August 22.