Cuddly kittens, food and live music. If this sounds like your "purrfect" night, you're in luck. The Columbia Animal Shelter will kick off its Summer Concert Series with a performance by Stu Huggens on Saturday, May 15. The concert will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at the shelter, 265 S. 10th St.

"We started doing concerts last summer as a way to offer something when not much else was going on," recalled Tammy Loughlin, executive director of the shelter. "We have a nice open field and a stage. There's plenty of room for people to come with their own lawn chairs and spread out. It was well received last summer, so we decided to do it again this summer."

The concerts are free and will be offered on the third Saturday of each month through Oct. 16. "We encourage donations if you're able to support us, and we also have a 50/50 (drawing)," Loughlin said. "We'll also have food trucks with food available for purchase." G's Concessions and Scoop O Dough will sell concessions during the May 15 concert.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the shelter, which opened in 2019 and houses cats and dogs looking for their forever homes. "We have a low-cost spay and neuter clinic every Monday, and we're working toward adding a dental unit," Loughlin stated. "We are also working toward purchasing X-ray equipment."

This month's concert is happening right in the middle of kitten season, she noted, adding that the shelter is always in need of items to support the cats. "We have a wish list on our website. ... If anyone wants to bring something off that list when they come to the concert, that's wonderful," she remarked.

Tours of the shelter will also be offered during the concert series, allowing visitors to meet the cats and dogs up for adoption.

Additional concerts in the series are RiverRat Jenkins on June 19; Tropical Soul on July 17; The Werks on Aug. 21; Stu Huggens on Sept. 18; and Blue Voodoo on Oct. 16.

"It's just good, clean fun," Loughlin said of the concert series. "It's a fun way to get out, enjoy some great music and spend some time with your family."

For more information on the concerts or the Columbia Animal Shelter, visit https://columbiaanimalshelter.com or search for "Columbia Animal Shelter" on Facebook.