Over 60K fans expected at this years’ Jacksonville Jazz Festival

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival has returned!

Action News Jax spoke with organizers about how many people are expecting to come out this weekend.

“The Jacksonville Jazz festival is one of the largest free music festivals in the country,” said Paola Lorenzo with the city of Jacksonville.

Lorenzo expects more than 60,000 people to attend this weekend’s event.

“Only eight months ago or nine months ago, we had our 40th annual Jazz Festival. It was postponed last year due to the pandemic and we had record-breaking numbers. We are expecting higher numbers for sure this weekend,” said Lorenzo.

Lorenzo said because of Memorial Day weekend, the festival will not just have Jacksonville locals in attendance.

“We have people flying in from out of the country, across the country, Alaska and Canada, even. It’s going to be amazing,” said Lorenzo.

Big names like Patti LaBelle, Kem and Taylor Roberts are expected to perform.

Ernest Nixon traveled from New York for the festival.

He says it’s his first time in Jacksonville, but he’s looking forward to it

“My cousin comes every year, she invited me. She said, ‘Ernest, you are missing (out) on a good thing.’ Normally I go to the Washington jazz festival. So, I said one year I’ll try it out, this year I’m here,” said Nixon

Jerry Lee, who is from Minnesota, says the Jacksonville Jazz Festival is a yearly tradition for him and his family

“Me and my wife, this is our wedding anniversary weekend. We come down here every year that we can to join the festivities,” said Lee.

Lorenzo added that jazz is what brings people together.

“It’s about the music,  right? Jazz is such a special genre of music that has so much history here in the United States.”

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