Summer kicks off Thursday in downtown LaGrange as the Downtown Development Authority is slated to host the a live music and movie event on Lafayette Square.

Local band Doublewide Revival is scheduled to perform from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday followed by a screening of the 1996 film “Space Jam” starring Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes characters.

The family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

“We do this because, for one thing, we want to have some fun events for our community, and the other thing is we hope it brings people downtown and eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores and become familiar with some of the shops they haven’t seen before,” said Barbie Watts, the DLDA’s director of promotions and marketing. “Hopefully it will drive foot traffic downtown.”

Watts encouraged residents to come early to shop and dine in local businesses on Lafayette Square.

“We want LaGrange to be a place that people want to live in,” she said. “We want to have fun events downtown and that’s something all communities aspire to.”

On Friday, the 2015 Bill Street Battle of the Bands kicks off at 6 p.m with local band and last year’s winner, Trashionality. That event, hosted on Bull Street, is also free and open to the public, but tables can be reserved at a cost of $35 by calling the DLDA at 706-298-4534.

More concert and movie events are planned for Lafayette Square this summer including the patriotic themed Red, White and Blue Friday event June 26 from 7 to 11 p.m.

The Community Orchestra, comprised of local musicians and directed by Neal Brumbeloe of LaGrange, is scheduled to perform popular and patriotic tunes June 26. In case of rain, the concert will be held at First Baptist Church on the Square.

Following the June 26 concert, cupcake and ice cream eating contests, sponsored by Cakes by Debbie, will be held on the east side of Lafayette Square.

For the fourth year, the DLDA is slated to hold a best-decorated picnic table contest June 26. Participants are encourage to decorate with a patriotic theme. The movie “Seabiscuit” will follow the decorating contest and be shown at dusk.

Aug. 7 is the last concert and movie event for the season. A local band will perform 7 to 9 p.m on Lafayette Square. The 2014 version of “Annie” will be shown at dusk.

All events are family friendly and open to the public. Adirondack chairs are available on a first come, first served basis.

For more information about any of these events, contact the DLDA at 706-298-4534 or visit www.downtownlagrange.com. Follow the DLDA on Facebook by searching for “Downtown LaGrange.”