A Latin beat will rock McDonald Park as the free Summer Concert Series kicks off its 12th season Thursday, June 14.

The music in the park series, sponsored by the Tracy Arts Commission, will have six Thursdays of music, ranging from rhythm and blues, to hard rock and cool country tunes.

The opening concert will have Edgardo Cambon and his Latin band LaTiDo perform at McDonald Park at 7 p.m. June 14. LaTiDo is a Bay Area quintet specializing in Cuban dance music.

The opening evening at McDonald Park could be the beginning of a new tradition, as the Tracy Arts Commission plans to move the opening concert of each season to a different park to reach different parts of the community.

This year’s series returns to Lincoln Park on June 21, with the blues and bee-bop sounds of Hurricane Sam and the Hotshots. The group will play a variety of jazz, ragtime, boogie and rock and roll.

The concert series takes a hard rock turn June 28 as the retro band Rippin takes to the stage at Lincoln Park for a concert inspired by the music of artists including Aerosmith, the Foo Fighters and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Dancing will be encouraged July 12 when the Mixed Nuts bring their hit list to the park, a catalogue that includes 1940s standards, classic rock and country.

Cajun and Zydeco music will spice up the concert series July 19, as Creole-inspired music takes over Lincoln Park.

The summer concert series wraps up July 26, as party band Take2 covers songs from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90’s and now.

Visitors to the park are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and their picnic baskets to enjoy the performances