Michelle Moen, Gypsy Chicks dancer, spreads her veil to compliment her body during a performance at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff Sunday. Jennifer Hillderbrand/ The Lumberjack

School is indeed in session, but summer hasn’t officially ended…at least not for another week.

Heritage Square Trust continues to host the Summer Concert Series, which began in May. The local talents perform various genres of music — including Celtic, bluegrass and reggae — and dance originating from diverse cultures for residents and students to enjoy downtown.

Heritage Square Trust is a non-profit foundation driven to provide all forms of entertainment free of cost at the Heritage Square amphitheater. To meet their goal of providing different genres of music that will perk the interest of everyone, this foundation has hosted the Summer Concert Series for a decade.

However, Matt Ziegler, the executive director of Heritage Square Trust, believes the Summer Concert Series has a bigger purpose than to merely play background music for downtown shoppers. It benefits the community by hosting and displaying various forms of art  that people would normally never experience.

“We believe that exposing the public to the arts is a vital means of improving our quality of life as well as sowing the seeds of tomorrow’s budding artists,” Ziegler said.

The Summer Concert Series has seen increasing numbers in attendance over the past six years. And because money isn’t eagerly spent on expensive affairs with entertainment these days, the Summer Concert Series has gained even more appeal because it is free.

“It’s more important than ever to present artistic and educational events free of charge to the public,” Ziegler said. “Our increased attendance in numbers is proof that there is a need in the community that we are serving.”

Burnett Family Bluegrass — well-known performers of the Concert Series for all 10 years — also believe the Summer Concert Series, as well as Heritage Square, has a positive impact on the community.

“The Summer Concert Series is important because it keeps downtown revitalized,” said Connie Burnett, the bassist for Burnett Family Bluegrass. “Generally, the Square draws a good crowd — many who are not local.”

Aside from impacting the community in a large scale, Chuck Cheesman, who has performed in the Summer Concert Series in the past, focused on a specific group of people: the talent. Cheesman, performs both children’s and acoustic music and believes this event is a great venue and benefits the local artists.

Middle Eastern dancer, Chaang glides smoothly with her sword during a performance at Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff Sunday. Chaang is a member of Troupe Shuvani, a local ensemble of belly dancers. Jennifer Hilderbrand / The Lumberjack

“The summer concerts allow local performers a chance to showcase their work in the same way the First Friday Art Walk gives local artists an opportunity to showcase theirs,” Cheesman said. “I can’t imagine we’d have much community without a strong local arts and music scene.”

Cheesman also considers this event a great opportunity for new and returning students to step off campus and indulge in the local music scene.

“I think students are members of our community while they are here,” Cheesman said. “They should make an effort to see what our community has to offer. Flagstaff is home to a vibrant and predictably underpaid music scene. I’d love to see students and residents get out and help support it.”

The Summer Concert Series ends with performances by Al-Rakasaat, performing traditional Turkish and Middle Eastern dance, on Sept. 12 and Muskellunge Bluegrass on Sept. 13.

For the schedule, visit heritagesquaretrust.org or call 853-4292.