News Summary
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is set to take place from May 22 to May 25, 2025, celebrating over 40 years of free jazz music in the city. The festival will kick off with the exciting Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, featuring talented musicians. Following this, a lineup of renowned artists, including Kool & The Gang and Janelle Monáe, will perform at Tailgaters Parking. The event will also feature Jazz Fest After Dark, showcasing local acts across several venues, ensuring an engaging experience for all attendees.
Jacksonville will host the renowned Jacksonville Jazz Festival from May 22 to May 25, 2025. This festival marks a milestone, celebrating over 40 years of free jazz music in the city, making it a cherished tradition for both locals and visitors.
The festival will kick off on May 22 with the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, set to begin at 7 p.m. at the Florida Theatre. This competition will feature five talented, up-and-coming jazz pianists vying for the opportunity to perform at the festival and win cash prizes, setting an exciting tone for the event.
Main performances will follow from May 23 to May 25 at Tailgaters Parking, located east of EverBank Stadium. This year’s lineup is star-studded, with headline acts including Kool & The Gang, Janelle Monáe, and The Roots. These acclaimed artists are expected to attract large crowds, enhancing the festival’s vibrancy.
In addition to the headliners, the festival will showcase a variety of notable acts such as Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Spyrogyra, ensuring a wide array of jazz styles and performances that will appeal to many music lovers.
To extend the festival experience, Jazz Fest After Dark will take place nightly from May 22 to May 25 in Downtown Jacksonville. This nighttime event will host over a dozen acts across five different venues, which are Albatross, Circuit Arcade Bar, De Real Ting Cafe, Intuition Ale Works, and The Volstead. Jazz Fest After Dark is designed to promote local nightlife and provide entertainment for festival-goers after the main performances conclude.
Admission to Jazz Fest After Dark will be free, with performances beginning at 8 p.m. and running until 1 a.m. Each night will offer unique acts, further enriching the festival experience and driving traffic to local establishments.
For those interested in attending the main festival performances, premium tickets will be available for purchase online. This will allow jazz enthusiasts to secure their spots for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend of music and culture. The official festival website, jacksonvillejazzfest.com, along with DTJax.com/jazzfestafterdark, will serve as the primary sources for event information and ticket sales.
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is more than just a musical gathering; it represents over four decades of cultural celebration in the heart of the city. Each year, it brings together artists and audiences from various backgrounds, fostering a community spirit through the universal language of music. As the festival approaches, anticipation builds for what is sure to be an extraordinary showcase of jazz talent and community engagement.
With such a vibrant and diverse lineup planned for 2025, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival continues to solidify its place as one of the premier jazz events in the nation, inviting everyone to join in the celebration of this timeless genre.
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Additional Resources
- News4Jax: Jacksonville Jazz Festival Headliners
- Wikipedia: Jazz Festival
- Action News Jax: Jazz Fest Lineup Announced
- Google Search: Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2025
- Jacksonville.com: May Festivals
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Jazz
- iHeartRadio: Jacksonville Jazz Festival Event Calendar
- Google News: Jazz Fest After Dark
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
