JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 2016 Jacksonville Jazz Festival kicked off Thursday at The Florida Theatre with the Piano Competition and will last throughout the Memorial Day weekend.
The festival will feature more than 35 performers over four stages with a street festival atmosphere.
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The festival lineup includes performances by KEM, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, Dr. John, Snarky Puppy, the Yellowjackets, Somi, McCoy Tyner, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Chris Godber, Charenée Wade, Dizzy Gillespie™ Afro-Cuban Experience, Lizz Wright, Ken Ford, Warren Wolf and the Wolfpack, Cyrille Aimée, Nathan East, Jamison Ross, and Generation NeXt, along with local favorites.
Other festival activities include the Jazz Marketplace, Second Line Jazz Parade, a Sacred Jazz Brunch with the Noel Freidline Quintet, Jazz Clinic with Mark Pender, Eric Carter, and Charenée Wade, and Jazz Fest After Dark.
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival event footprint will include the Swingin’ Stage at the corner of Main and West Adams streets; the Groovin’ Stage at Hemming Park; and the Breezin’ Stage at the Jacksonville Landing. Performances on all three stages will begin on Friday.
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival hours are:
- Thursday 6 - 10 p.m. (Florida Theatre )
- Friday 4 - 11 p.m.
- Saturday 1 - 11 p.m.
- Sunday 1 - 10 p.m.
Street closures will begin Thursday, May 26 and continue through Monday, May 30, at noon. Closures include:
- Laura Street from Church Street to Bay Street
- Adams Street from Hogan Street to Ocean Street
- Hogan Street from Monroe Street to Duval Street, east (right) lane only
- Duval Street from Hogan Street to Laura Street
- Duval Street from Main Street to Ocean Street
- Monroe Street from Hogan Street to Main Street
- Monroe Street from Main Street to Ocean Street
- Main Street from Church Street to Forsyth Street
VIDEO: Road closures scheduled for Jazz Fest
The JTA Skyway will be free this weekend and have extended hours for the Jacksonville Jazz Fest. The Skyway will run:
- Friday 6 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
- Saturday 11 a.m. - 2:30 a.m.
- Sunday 11 a.m. - midnight
The Water Taxi is another way for people to get to the Jacksonville Jazz Fest. It cost $5 each way and will run:
- Friday 11 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
- Saturday 11 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
- Sunday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is produced by the city of Jacksonville’s Office of Special Events and is free and open to the public unless otherwise listed. Additional festival features and information are available at JacksonvilleJazzFest.com.