Going to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival over Memorial Day weekend? Here's what to know.
Consistency has never been the hallmark of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Onstage, it's produced decades of great performances, but some years they've been ticketed, some years free. It's been staged at Mayport, at Metropolitan Park, at the old Jacksonville Landing and in the downtown streets.
For this year's festival, scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend, the festival is using two stages, one at Metropolitan Park and another across the street at Daily's Place. The Daily's shows will be the first time one of the festival's main stages was indoors.
Here's what you need to know before heading to the fest.
When is the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
The Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, the traditional opener for the festival, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at the Florida Theatre. The festival itself is Friday, May 24; Saturday, May 25; and Sunday, May 26. The festival is open from 4-11 p.m. Friday, 3-11 p.m. Saturday and 3-11 p.m. Sunday.
Where is the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
The festival will be in two locations this year, Metropolitan Park and Daily’s Place. A temporary stage will be brought in for the Met Park shows. The venues are across the street from each other, so fans can easily see shows on both stages.
Why did they move the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
The festival has been held in several places over the years. Last year it had stages at Riverfront Plaza and Ford on Bay. Ongoing construction at Riverfront Plaza meant the festival needed a new home this year.
The festival started in 1980 in Mayport and moved to Metropolitan Park the following year. No festivals were in 2001 or 2002, but it came back to the park in 2003 with Tony Bennett as headliner. It moved to the downtown streets in 2009 and has since seen stages at James Weldon Johnson Park, the Duval County Courthouse, The Jacksonville Landing, Ford on Bay, the Shipyards and Riverfront Plaza.
Who is playing Friday at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
4:15 p.m.: Joshua Bowlus Quartet at Daily's Place
4:30 p.m.: Michelle Manzo at Met Park
5:30 p.m.: Jamison Ross at Daily's Place
6 p.m.: Nicholas Payton at Met Park
7 p.m.: Kenny Barron Trio at Daily's Place
7:45 p.m.: Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin at Met Park
8:30 p.m.: Brian McKnight 4 at Daily’s Place
9:30 p.m.: Stanley Clarke Band at Met Park
Who is playing Saturday at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
3 p.m.: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jazz Combo at Daily’s Place
3:45 p.m.: Justice Michael & the Passage at Met Park
4:30 p.m.: Pablo Aragona Quintet at Daily’s Place
5:15 p.m.: Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition winner at Met Park
6 p.m.: Josh Vietti at Daily’s Place
6:15 p.m.: Lakecia Benjamin at Met Park
7:45 p.m.: Huntertones at Daily’s Place
7:45 p.m.: Gregory Porter at Met Park
9:15 p.m.: Robin Thicke at Daily’s Place
9:30 p.m.: Brian Culbertson at Met Park
Who is playing Sunday at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
3:15 p.m.: UNF Jazz Ensemble 1 at Daily's Place
3:15 p.m.: Jacksonville Arts and Music School Ensemble at Met Park
4:15 p.m.: Jeff Ryan at Met Park
4:30 p.m.: Keiko Matsui at Daily’s Place
5:45 p.m.: Chucho Valdes Royal Quartet at Met Park
6 p.m.: Lizz Wright at Daily’s Place
7:15 p.m.: The Baylor Project at Met Park
7:45 p.m.: RnR with Rick Braun and Richard Elliot at Daily’s Place
9:30 p.m.: Joss Stone at Met Park
What is the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition?
Five up-and-coming jazz pianists will compete for a $5,000 first prize and a Saturday spot on the Met Park stage at the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at the Florida Theatre. Tickets for the event are free. This year’s competitors are Brendon Davis of Detroit, Gavin Allen-Dunn from the University of Northern Colorado, Canadian Jenny Xu, South Korean Yae-Seul Kim and Ross Margitza of Austin, Texas.
How much are tickets to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
All performances on the main festival stages are free. VIP packages, with dedicated seating, bars and restrooms, are available for $219-$499. Preferred seating packages are $99 per day, but Saturday is sold out.
Is there a poster for this year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
Varick Rosete from Jacksonville’s TigerLily Media and the downtown Wolf & Cub boutique designed this year’s poster. You can order one online.
Where can I park for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
The lots around EverBank Stadium will be open for a $15 fee. There is a Lionel Richie/Earth, Wind & Fire concert at nearby VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Saturday evening, and an NF concert at the arena Sunday night. Lots closer to the arena will charge $30 for parking. Parking is also available on streets and in garages throughout the downtown area.
I want to see shows at Met Park and at Daily's Place. What do I do with my chair when I go to Daily's?
Daily's Place has about 5,500 permanent seats, so there is no need to bring a chair inside. Festival officials say they are setting up a chair check where you'll be able to leave a chair when entering Daily's. You could also leave it at Met Park to try to save your spot, but there is no guarantee it will still be there when you return.
If Daily's Place only has 5,500 seats, what happens if 10,000 people try to get in?
Festival organizers say they will monitor the number of people at each venue and will send out messages on social media when they're getting close to capacity. In that case, fans will be directed to the other stage. So it is possible that you could be shut out of a Daily's Place performance and should plan accordingly if there is a show you really want to see.
Will all the seats in Daily's Place be first come, first served?
Yes, other than VIP and Preferred seating, all of the Daily's Place seats will be considered general admission for the festival.
Will there be security checkpoints at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
There will be screenings at the Daily's Place entrance and bag checks at the Met Park gate.
What items are prohibited at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
Large bags or purses, alcohol, illegal drugs, animals other than service animals, banners or signs larger than 2 feet by 3 feet, cameras with detachable lenses, drones, gifts for the performers, iPads, tablets, laptops, GoPros, selfie sticks, knives, guns, replica weapons, laser pointers, noise makers, whistles, air horns, pepper spray, tasers, outside drinks, professional video equipment, skates, skateboards and umbrellas are not permitted on the festival grounds.
Will there be a Jazz Clinic at this year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
The Huntertones will lead a free Jazz Clinic at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Old St. Andrew’s Church next to 121 Financial Ballpark. They’ll share tips with aspiring musicians of all ages.
Will there be a Jazz Jam at this year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
The John Lumpkin Trio will lead this year’s Jazz Jam, which will be 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the West Club in EverBank Stadium. Competent musicians are invited to perform, or anyone can just sit back and watch.
What if it rains at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival?
The festival is a rain-or-shine event. The Met Park stage will be covered, but fans will be exposed to the elements. Rain is not an issue at Daily’s Place, which is under cover.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jazz Festival ready for Memorial Day weekend crowds
