Jacksonville goes to spring music festival

  • 2025-04-12
Many jazz enthusiasts and aficionados will be spending their Memorial Day Weekend at this year's Jacksonville Jazz Festival.

The annual Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition will kick off the event on Thursday evening. Five finalists from around the U.S.A. will be vying for the opportunity to perform at the festival and to receive cash prizes of $5000 for first place, $2000 for second place and $1000 for third place.

The Jazz Piano Competition will take place Thursday, May 22nd at the Florida Theatre, 128 E. Forsyth Street #300 beginning at 7:00 pm.

The free event will include Spyro Gyra, Kool & the Gang on Friday. Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Jazz Combo, the piano competition winner, and Janelle Monae will take to the event's one stage on Saturday, while Branford Marsalis Quartet, Boney James and The Roots will end the music weekend on Sunday.

The weekend will be full of live instrument demonstrations, jam sessions, group improvisation exercises and friendly musical competitions.

Along with this line up, the event will have a Jazz Marketplace where makers and artists will offer original items for purchase. Food and drinks will also be available.

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Admission will be $50 per day and VIP passes are $150.

This year's 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Fest will take place in Downtown Jacksonville, May 22nd to the 25th.