Fort Lauderdale's Starlight Musicals series will get its 31st season under way tonight at 7 p.m. in Holiday Park, 1300 E. Sunrise, with the Viva Classic Rock ‘N’ Roll band tearing into covers of the old hits and rocking away until the evening closes down three hours later.

When the Starlight series began in the late ’70s, said Debbie Bylica, special events programmer for the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Beaches, concerts alternated between George English Park and Fort Lauderdale Beach. But the switching venues confused many residents, and the enterprise got too big for a neighborhood park. Holiday Park has been the host venue for more than a decade.

Starlight Musicals will run every Friday through Aug. 7, featuring repeat appearances by local musicians such as Valerie Tyson, Joey Gilmore and Jimmy Stowe.

“Where else can [you] have a free evening of this quality in this economy?” Bylica said.

TONIGHT
Viva Classic Rock 'n' Roll

JUNE 26
Valerie Tyson Band

JULY 3
Rodeo Clown Band

JULY 10
Magic City Band

JULY 17
Joey Gilmore Band

JULY 24
Jimmy Stowe & the Stowaways

JULY 31
Hot Brass Monkey's Evolution

AUG. 7
Curbstone