Monona’s first concerts in Winnequah Park will start next week, but residents interested in spending a summer evening listening to orchestral music had better pack more than a blanket and a bottle of wine.

"I would definitely recommend bringing a chair," said Jake Anderson, the city’s parks and recreation director.

That’s because the park, while picturesque with its lagoon and gazebo, is also a popular place for Canada geese and the droppings they leave behind.

At least the problem is not as bad as it was last fall, Anderson said.

That’s when the city began researching a goose-chasing program, ultimately issuing 12 permits to volunteers who signed up their dogs to chase away the geese.

But by the time the program was up and running this spring, many of the geese had goslings that couldn’t fly. Officials put the program on hold out of concern the dogs might harm them. On top of that, the mother geese get "very, very protective," Anderson said.

Anderson said he hopes to resume the program soon, now that the goslings are older.

But goose poop or not, the concerts are ready to go.

About 15 Monona musicians, many of them teachers in Monona Grove and other area school districts, will play two of the three free concerts scheduled this summer.

The third concert will feature the LeeDing Zeros, a rock band from Monona.

Carl Davick, who teaches orchestra to high school students and eighth-graders in the Monona Grove School District, will conduct the two orchestra concerts. He said the two performances will include "light" classical pieces, contemporary arrangements and a tune from a Disney or cartoon movie that children will recognize.

"This is just another avenue to allow people to be together and to let music be the facilitator of that," Davick said. "It is something that I’m hoping can keep going annually with perhaps even more and more programs."

IF YOU GO

What: Free concerts at the gazebo in Monona’s Winnequah Park.

When: A group of Monona musicians will play orchestral music at 7 p.m. Tuesday and July 7. The LeeDing Zeros will play at 7 p.m. on July 14.

Tip: Bring a chair; the park has lots of goose droppings.