KINGSTON — The Port of Kingston is gearing up to host its first summer concert series on Saturday nights. Plans are in place, ideas are in the groundworks but funding is short.

The series, scheduled to take place each Saturday in August, comes as a replacement effort for Tunes on Tuesdays, which will continue no more.

In January, Kitsap County Parks and Recreation said it would no longer be heading the efforts for the concerts, said Mike Bookey, manager for the Port of Kingston.

Bookey said Tunes on Tuesday, which used to be called Kingston Live, was an annual tradition that started in the 1990s.

He said it’s not a huge change not to have the county’s involvement.

“They paid for the flyers and provided their staff time. Now we will take it over and do it ourselves,” he said. “It was either that or nothing; and that wasn’t acceptable.”

A survey of port constituents made it clear that Kingston residents want the port to host events all year long. However, to do that with live bands it costs money.

Bookey said bands booked for Tunes on Tuesdays were paid between $400-$500 per show.

“Saturdays are more popular gig nights so they are more expensive,” he said.

So far two of the five weekends have confirmed bands: the House of Cards and the Foggy Bottom Jazz Band.

“Now, the Downtown Kingston Association (DKA) is going to take the lead on getting the bands,” Bookey said.

DKA will also fund the $25 cost to rent the port’s park and also is shouldering the advertising expenses.

Nancy Martin, president of DKA, said the changes might be a surprisingly good thing.

“We had a great turnout on Tuesdays so we think we will have a better turnout on Saturday,” she said.

Because of the number of North Enders who commute out of the county for work, Bookey said he also believes the weekends are better for concerts.

“Tuesday was hard because it is in the middle of the work week,” he said.

Plans for the port concert series include a bandstand and a beer garden, which Kingston Rotary is looking into for licensing purposes.

“My goal is to make the port a fun place to come on the weekends. It’s a good way for the service organizations to make money that will be put into the community for a good cause,” Bookey said. “We are going to try to make every weekend for Kingston to be a destination. Now because of fuel prices, we are a destination. We used to be just quick stop to the San Juans.”

This summer, DKA is also preparing to show projected movies on a large outdoor screen at Mike Wallace Park.

“It’s not all finalized yet but it’s in the works,” said DKA member Debbie Anderson. “We have got to get the activities here and then you get the people.”