Saskatchewan Jazz Festival wraps up with over 30,000 attendees in Saskatoon

CTV News

a day ago

The Saskatchewan Jazz Festival has wrapped up in Saskatoon, and organizers are happy to report that the 2025 festival has been a huge success.
'It's gone great, we're so excited. We've had just an absolutely fantastic show...we couldn't ask for more. The sun is shining, music's going, crowd's flowing in, it's great,' said Shannon Josdal, executive director of the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival.
While the exact total of attendees will take some time to count, Josdal says this year's festival has exceeded 30,000 people, already surpassing last year's total.
'It's really special, especially because we beat that number with our free programming. What that signifies to me is that we're connecting with the community on that level, providing outreach and service, and filling a niche in the community that's wanted and desired, both in terms of audience participation and as a platform for local artists here in Saskatoon,' Josdal said.
Both local and international artists drew in a massive crowd throughout the week. Josdal says the success of the festival is thanks to a very dedicated community.
'It's one thing that I learned when I joined the organization is how many people care, like more than you would ever expect about this event, especially our volunteers,' Josdal said.
The event relies on hundreds of volunteers, many of whom have been with the festival for years.
'There are so many volunteers who take time off work and are basically here full-time, just to help us and enjoy the experience. That means so much to me,' Josdal said.
Thanks to the 2025 turnout, Josdal says the team is particularly excited for next year's Jazz Festival.