Latest news with #JacksonvilleJazzFestival
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jacksonville businesses see boost from Jazz Fest After Dark, despite concerns over new venue
Music lovers are filling The Elbow in downtown Jacksonville this weekend as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival continues into the night with its After Dark event. While the festival has drawn strong crowds, not everyone is thrilled with the event's new location. Action News Jax reporter Nicholas Brooks was downtown Saturday night and reported long lines at local businesses. He spoke with several business owners who said the festival has brought a noticeable increase in foot traffic and sales. 'Yesterday was profitable. Let's see how the rest of this weekend goes because last year was pretty freaking good,' said Julia Cordero, manager of The Circuit, a new business participating in the event. Cordero added that Friday night saw a steady stream of customers. 'We had a lot of people come in here. We had a couple bands playing.' Bands are set to perform at venues throughout The Elbow during the After Dark portion of the festival, offering a boost to nearby businesses. Related: See the full After Dark performance schedule Earlier in the day, music filled the air as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival kicked off from its new location at Tailgater's Lot in the city's Sports & Entertainment District. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Despite the distance from the original downtown setup, some businesses farther from the main venue reported strong customer turnout. 'We had a steady flow of people coming in and out. It's also been a pretty good turnout as well,' said Nick Colston, an employee at That Bar at the Arena. Other local establishments echoed the sentiment, saying they typically see increased profits when events are held in town. However, not all attendees are pleased with the festival's relocation. The festival said the move was due to them expecting a larger crowd than Metropolitan Park can handle, and other previous venues being currently preoccupied with construction. Some longtime festivalgoers said they preferred previous downtown sites, citing convenience. 'I did like the other location a lot,' said Dolly Singleton. 'I love the location, but it's not the best location,' said William Steele. For those who haven't attended yet, Sunday is the last chance to enjoy this year's Jazz Fest. Related: Know before you go: 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Business Journals
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Journals
Local venues to host Jazz Fest After Dark
The free shows will take place around downtown in conjunction with the annual Jazz Fest, which will take place at Tailgaters Parking, located in Jacksonville's Sports & Entertainment District. Several downtown venues will host free performances as part of Jazz Fest After Dark, it was announced Thursday. In a release, Downtown Vision said the shows will take place in conjunction with the free Jacksonville Jazz Fest concert series that will take place May 22-25 at at Tailgaters Parking, located in Jacksonville's Sports & Entertainment District. Created in 2013, Jazz Fest After Dark brings free, late-night entertainment to various downtown venues. 'We started Jazz Fest After Dark to give Jazz Fest attendees a reason to stay downtown after the last acts of the day wrapped up,' Jazz Fest After Dark founder Jason Huckleberry Lewis said in the release. 'Live music is such a big component of downtown's nightlife. It's the perfect opportunity to showcase local venues and extend the energy of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival well into the night.' This year's event will feature more than a dozen acts across five host venues throughout several downtown districts, including many performances that will take place in The Elbow: Downtown's Nightlife District. This year's lineup includes Amelia Crescendo Big Band, Few Fellas Brass Band, Groove Coalition, Raisin Cake Orchestra and more. Performances begin at 8 p.m. and continue until 1 a.m. each night. Participating venues include: Albatross (formerly Underbelly) at 113 E. Bay St. Circuit Arcade Bar at 19 N. Ocean St. De Real Ting Cafe at 128 W. Adams St. Intuition Ale Works at 929 E. Bay St. The Volstead at 115 W. Adams St. 'Jazz Fest After Dark highlights the depth and diversity of downtown Jacksonville's music and nightlife scene,' said Eduardo Santos, director of stakeholder support at Downtown Vision. 'From classic jazz to brass bands and modern fusion, each venue offers a distinct atmosphere and experience." Partners include Downtown Vision and the Jacksonville Jazz Fest. Sponsors include Blue Buddha Specialty Foods and Moon River Pizza. Sign up here for the Business Journal's free morning and afternoon daily newsletters to receive the latest business news impacting the First Coast, and download our free app to get breaking news alerts on your phone.
