Live music and other entertainment choices will be returning to Brookfield this summer, with plans for seven musical concerts and three outdoor movie screenings, as well as the return of the village’s Oktoberfest.

Members of Brookfield’s Special Events Committee discussed plans for the summer schedule at their meeting on Jan. 10. As proposed, outdoor concerts and movies would be presented Friday nights, from June 15 through Aug. 24, at Kiwanis Park. One of the movie nights would be specifically designated as a family camp-out night.

No entertainment would be scheduled for Friday, July 6, but Arlene Rovner of the village’s Recreation Department said she plans to book two musical acts for the village’s July 4 celebrations, compared to last year’s lineup of three acts. Planning for the events is still in progress, but country group Mason Rivers, a staple of the annual July 4 celebrations for several years, is expected to return. Beatles tribute band Brit Beat, who participated in Brookfield’s concert series last summer, also may make a return appearance.

Rovner explained that booking two acts would be more economical in terms of budget.

“We’d save some money and could get a better quality of a band for the Fourth of July,” she said.

Committee members also discussed scheduling the July 4 performances earlier than in past years, which would provide an opportunity for “a little longer set from each one,” said Rovner, who added that the audience tends to grow smaller later in the day.

“It tends to thin out a little bit,” she said. “People leave early.”

Rovner suggested planning a third performance for July 4, which would feature the winning act from the village’s “Battle Of The Bands” competition, a joint venture between Brookfield’s Recreation Department, Community Extension Project and A Sound Education.

Local high schools have received promotional packages for the event, scheduled this year from noon to 6 p.m. on May 20 at Kiwanis Park. Deadline for registration is March 30, after which judges will select eight finalists; the final winner will be chosen following the May 20 performance by a different set of judges, Rovner said.

For the summer concerts, a full schedule has yet to be finalized, but the series will kick off June 15 with a performance by the Dooley Brothers, who were well-received by attendees of last year’s performance. The brothers are originally from River Forest and are veterans of Chicago’s folk music scene. Rovner also said she has a tentative commitment from the Great Lakes Naval Band, which is expected to perform June 29.

Other acts who have been approached include the Gin Palace Jesters, billed as “Chicago’s original honky-tonk fools,” who are familiar to Brookfield residents from a recent appearance at The Sandbar. Three members of the Jesters are Brookfield residents. The band has a traditional country music sound, including an upright bass, and take the stage in authentic vintage outfits.

Oktoberfest returns

Also planned for 2007 is the return of Brookfield’s Oktoberfest, which is scheduled for the weekend of September 29-30. Rovner said musical entertainment is planned, and pending approval by the village board, “we have a good chance of promoting everything at the same time.”

Oktoberfest will be held on Burlington Avenue, just south of the Metra train station. Local businesses, including Irish Times and Phil’s Sports Bar, have agreed to provide use of their parking for the event, which also will include a craft show. According to a memo given to Brookfield village board members at their Jan. 8 meeting, the craft fair is being targeted for the Cock Robin parking lot, pending that business’ OK.

The memo also suggests that the Oktoberfest include a family activities area west of Prairie Avenue on Burlington Avenue, which involve closing the street from Sunnyside to Prairie. Activities proposed for that area include booths from local organizations, a one-day farmers market during the morning hours and crafts and games for children.

East of Prairie Avenue would be the main stage for the fest. Bands would play between 1 and 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.