The sounds from 2016 Jacksonville Jazz Fest will fill the streets of downtown Jacksonville this weekend.
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts junior Skyler Nolan serenaded city officials on his saxophone Wednesday morning as he helped herald the 35th annual festival.
The celebration will cover 15 blocks downtown, including 36 artists on three outdoor stages. Guests can look forward to a performances by KEM, The Yellowjackets, Snarky Puppy and Jacksonville’s own Jamison Ross — amongst many others.
Mayor Lenny Curry welcomed the opportunity for unity.
“With the issues we’re facing as a city, as a country, there’s a whole lot of things we’re trying to solve,” Curry said. “But there’s nothing like arts, culture, sports — the stuff we have in the city to bring people together as one people — and that’s exactly what the Jazz Fest represents.”
City Council President Greg Anderson said the Jacksonville Jazz Fest is one of the largest free jazz events in the country, attracting visitors from across the nation.
Venues throughout downtown Jacksonville on Friday and Saturday night — including 1904 Music Hall, Underbelly and Burro Bar — will host Jazz Fest After Dark. Performances will run 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.
Other events are the Jazz Fest Clinic, Jazz Parade and Omni Sacred Jazz Brunch at this year’s Jacksonville Jazz Fest.
