For eight Fridays in the summer, the Bowling Green Community comes together at City Park, where people from all parts of the community eat and enjoy live music.

Bowling Green Parks and Recreation has been hosting Lunch in the Park every summer for 15 to 20 years.

Each week, a different Bowling Green restaurant caters and a local musical artist plays at City Park. Lunch in the Park gives the community a way to come together and enjoy local cuisine and entertainment.

Ivan Kovacevic became the Recreation Coordinator last July, but he understands the importance of this “summer tradition” because it brings people out to the parks and connects them with locals artists and businesses.

“We’ve had great weather and turnouts,” he said, which is good since the event happens in both rain and shine.

This past Lunch in the Park, which happened June 17, local restaurant SamB’s provided the lunch and performer Jeff Tucker provided the music, playing guitar and harmonica.

“I’m closing in on 20 years in a row,” Jeff Tucker said of performing at Lunch in the Park. “I think my first time here was … either 1998 or ‘99.”

Tucker plays music for a living and enjoys performing for the crowd. He will be performing again on July 10 with his band for BG Parks and Rec Concerts in the Park.

SamB’s gave attendees the option of purchasing either chicken salad on a Kaiser bun or vegetarian lasagna as their entree and side options of coleslaw or potato chips.

Kovacevic says they try to have a different restaurant every week during the eight weeks to “try to mix it up.”

This Friday’s Lunch in the Park will be provided by Bowling Green’s Qdoba with a performance by Tapestry on harp and guitar.