When the Burlington Municipal Band opens its 95th concert season Sunday with its Teddy Bear's Picnic, a special, vintage stuffed bear named Teddy will join the musicians onstage. 

"I always bring my own teddy bear — actually, he's a panda, but we haven't told him — and attach him to my trombone," said Jim Priebe, the band's foundation director. "He'll be 80 this year." 

Visitors also are asked to bring their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal, and participate in the teddy bear parade. 

"I always suggest that 'kids of all ages' bring their teddy bears to join in the fun and, of course, I hope that the parents and anyone else who is young at heart will join in," said Priebe. 

Carmen Lachnitt will wield the baton for the free 7:30 p.m. concert at the Crapo Park bandshell. The concert also will be presented at 9 p.m. on KBUR.

In the event of rain, the weekly, Sunday concert will move to the James Madison auditorium at 2132 Madison Ave. 

More:No rain-outs for Municipal Band: James Madison will host concerts during inclement weather

Each week, the decision regarding concert location will be made by 5:30 p.m. Sunday, and announced on muniband.org and social media. 

In the unlikely event that a Crapo Park concert must be stopped in progress, that concert will not be moved to James Madison.

Also new for this year, all of the Muni Band's concerts will be live-streamed, viewable only at concert time, by clicking on the "Concert Live Stream" button, also at muniband.org. 

The Teddy Bear concerts are longtime tradition. 

"When I came to Burlington in 1965, Maurice Wright, the conductor of the band in those days, was doing the teddy bear parade, and we've continued that tradition," said Priebe.

Sunday's live music will feature guest performances by nine talented Burlington area middle school band members, each of whom was nominated by their school band director to play with the Muni, giving them a unique opportunity to play with the Muni Band, and perhaps grow to become future members.

Joining the band for performances of “Procession of the Nobles” and "Byzantine Dances" are:

Isha Salokhe, flute; Lily Newell, alto saxophone and Hunter Brookheiser, tenor saxophone, from Edward Stone Middle School; Abigail Denney, bass clarinet, from New London Middle School; Kiefer Lachnitt, clarinet, from Notre Dame Middle School, and Kale Eggar, percussion; Sam Yonker, trumpet, and Gracin Dugger, euphonium, from West Burlington Middle School.

This educational outreach program is funded by a grant from the Des Moines County Community Foundation.  

Other highlights of the concert will include vocal soloist Adrian Benson performing "Come Fly With Me," and a performance of Sergei Prokofeiff's "Peter and the Wolf," narrated by Brayden Bowers. 

Audience members can bring lawn chairs or blankets or sit on provided benches. 

The band enjoys a membership from a wide variety of backgrounds — homemakers, physicians, music teachers, business men and women, ministers, retired people, college students, and a few outstanding high school musicians.

All share the common enjoyment of playing their instruments and providing the community with a wholesome family activity.

On Sunday, June 12, the band will return to the Crapo Park bandshell for a concert conducted by Janel Horn, and concerts are held each Sunday until the Aug. 7 "Round Robin" concert.