What to know about the 2023 Rochester jazz fest: Parking, tickets, headliners and more
Navigating the Rochester International Jazz Festival is a breeze. You just need to know a bit about what to expect of the 9-day festival held at 19 venues in downtown Rochester, this year marking its 20th year.
What are the 2023 dates for the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival?
Opening night is set for Friday, June 23 and the festival will run through Saturday, July 1.
Rochester jazz fest parking for 2023
Nearby city-owned parking garages (rates vary) include:
East End Garage at Main and Scio streets
Midtown Garage, with entrances on South Clinton Avenue, Court Street and Broad Street
Washington Square Garage on Woodbury Boulevard
South Avenue Garage, between South Avenue and Stone Street
Sister Cities Garage, on North Fitzhugh Street
Metered street parking is also available and is free after 6 p.m. and on weekends. There are also many privately owned surface lots in the East End area.
Rochester jazz fest street closures
Gibbs Street between East Main Street and East Avenue will be closed to car traffic between June 13 and July 4 - for the duration of the festival, including time to set up and tear down.
East Avenue (between Scio and Chestnut streets), East Main Street (between Chestnut and Scio streets) and Chestnut Street (between East Main and Broad streets) will be closed to cars each night of the festival from 4 p.m. to midnight. That stretch of Chestnut will be closed the entire day on June 28.
The streets around Parcel 5 - Elm Street, Cortland Street, Atlas Street, Euclid Street and Andrew Langston Way - will be closed daily between June 28 and July 1, from 2 p.m. until midnight.
Other ways to get to the CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival
The downtown RTS Transit Center, where all public buses stop, is within walking distance of the festival. A schedule is available at myrts.com.
There are several HOPR bike and scooter share locations near the festival grounds. Designated bike racks for privately owned bicycles are by the Rochester Regional Health Big Tent at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets.
What can I bring to the the Rochester jazz festival?
People can bring lawn chairs and blankets to the free outdoor shows. Pets and coolers are not permitted. Strollers are allowed, but wagons are not.
You are allowed to take photos at the outdoor concerts, but may not use of any sort of camera (cell phones, video or still) or any recording devices at any of the indoor concerts. Photography is permitted only to credentialed photographers in designated areas.
Safety and security at the Rochester jazz fest
Festival organizers in mid-June announced that all bags, purses, backpacks will be search upon entry to the festival.
Children 17 and younger attending the festival must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or adult 25 years or older. An adult may only accompany two unrelated youngers.
Rochester jazz fest 2023 lineup: The headliners
Ticketed headliner shows will be held at Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre:
Friday, June 23, 8 p.m. - Pat Metheny Side-Eye
Saturday, June 24, 8 p.m. - Keb' Mo'
Sunday, June 25, 4 p.m. - Omara Portuondo
Tuesday, June 27, 8 p.m. - Bonnie Raitt (sold out show)
Free headliner shows will be held outside and held rain or shine. Each of the shows will begin at 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 24 - St. Paul & The Broken Bones -the East Avenue and Chestnut Street stage
Wednesday, June 28 - Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers - Parcel 5
Thursday, June 29 - Southside Johnny - Parcel 5
Friday, June 30 - Artimus Pyle Band - Parcel 5
Saturday, July 1 - Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue -Parcel 5
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How to get Rochester jazz festival tickets
For ticketed headliner shows at the Eastman Theatre go to rochesterjazz.com or call (585) 454-2060. You can also purchase tickets at the RIJF Ticket Shop, 100 East Ave. Prices vary based on the show. You can also buy at the door of Eastman Theatre at showtime, if tickets are still available.
Two types of Club Passes are available - a 9-day pass and a 3-day pass. The 9-day pass is valid for the full festival and the 3-day pass grants access to 3 days of shows at the festival. Student club passes have already sold out. These passes allow access to the Club Pass Series Shows and can be purchased online at rochesterjazz.com.
You can also pay per show to attend any Club Pass show. Tickets cost $30 cash at the door, $35 cash at Kilbourn Hall.
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Rochester jazz fest venues
There are 19 venues:
Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 115 South Ave.
Christ Church, 141 East Ave.
City of Rochester East Avenue and Chestnut Street stage, at the intersection of East and Chestnut
City of Rochester Jazz Street Stage, Gibbs Street at East Avenue
Eastman School of Music Ray Wright Room, 26 Gibbs St.
Hatch Recital Hall, 433 E. Main St.
Hyatt Regency Rochester Astor on Main, 125 E. Main St.
Hyatt Regency Rochester Grand Ballroom, 125 E. Main St.
Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music, 26 Gibbs St.
Kodak Hall at the Eastman School of Music, 60 Gibbs St.
Max of Eastman Place, 387 E. Main St.
Montage Music Hall, 50 Chestnut Plaza
Rochester Regional Health Big Tent, East Main Street (between Gibbs and Chestnut streets)
Temple Theater, 50 Liberty Pole Way
The Little Theatre, 240 East Ave.
Theater at Innovation Square, 131 Chestnut St.
Wegmans Pavilion, corner of East Avenue and Chestnut Street
Wegmans Stage at Parcel 5, 285 E. Main St.
Wilder Room, 120 East Ave.
A record 210,000 people attended the 2022 festival, organizers said, following a two-year hiatus forced by the coronavirus pandemic. All of last year's headlining shows were presented free of charge on Parcel 5.
The 2023 event will feature 300 shows by 1,750 artists.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester jazz festival 2023: Parking, tickets, headliners and more
