Jacksonville Jazz Festival set to move to a different location in 2024
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jazz Festival saw a record estimated 75,000 plus people attend the 4-day event including a whopping estimated 30,000 plus on Sunday. But could that event find itself in a new future home?
City officials tell Action News Jax, next year the event will move to another venue due to construction at the River Front Plaza.
We spoke with a local bartender in the downtown area who thought moving the Jazz Fest wasn’t a good idea for the city.
“I would say it’s a loss,” Cameron Brooks said.
Brooks, a bartender at Ocean Street Tacos worked each night of the event except for Sunday.
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He believes the Jazz Festival was positive for the business.
“There was a massive crowd of people. It’s a difference between a bar doing 1,000 dollars and 4 or 5,000 dollars in a sale,” Brooks said.
On Sunday alone, artist Charlie Wilson performed in front of that estimated 30,000 plus fans.
JSO even tweeted that the event was at capacity and no one else was allowed inside.
City officials tell Action News Jax, they are looking to move the 2024 event to a different location.
The Jazz Fest is no stranger to moving venues.
According to their website, in 2009 it was moved from Metropolitan Park to the Downtown Core.
And in 2015 it moved from the Downtown Core to Bay Street.
Those who depend on these events for their livelihood are left wondering where it could move next.
“I mean it took up four blocks over here where else are you going to put that? My idea is they would have to move it somewhere out of city limits and it might not be as accessible to a lot of people,” Brooks said.
Brandon Perry, who lives in the downtown area says the event should stay in the area, and stay for good.
“Keeping it here gives people something to do, that’s free and it builds the economy,” Perry said.
Fellow Jacksonville resident Dani Wampler agrees.
“Here we are trying to grow downtown. Here we are trying to make it revitalized and have a whole new life and the only way you do that is by introducing it to people,” Wampler said.
We did reach back out to the city to get specifics about exactly where they are looking to move the event for 2024, we’re still waiting to hear back.