FAQ

The 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival takes place over Memorial Day Weekend, from May 22–25, 2025. Events are scheduled across multiple days and locations:

Thursday, May 22:

• The Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition presented by Yamaha at the Florida Theatre will showcase five talented finalists competing for prizes, including the opportunity to perform at the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
• Florida Theatre: 128 E Forsyth St #300, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Friday, May 23 – Sunday, May 25:

• The Hart Bridge Stage presented by Publix at Tailgaters Parking will feature three days of live performances and unforgettable music experiences. The event is free to attend with no general admission ticket required; however, capacity is limited. To guarantee entry, guests are encouraged to purchase an available VIP or Preferred Seating package presented by JAA.
• Tailgaters Parking: 225 Talleyrand Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Saturday, May 24:

• Jazz Clinic: A Conversation With Branford Marsalis will take place Saturday morning at Intuition Bier Hall. This educational session is free to attend, but pre-registration is required and space is limited. Register today so that you don't miss out on this unique opportunity! 
• Jazz Jam presented by Hot 106.5 will take place Saturday evening at Intuition Bier Hall. This open improv session invites musicians to come together and create spontaneous, unforgettable performances. This is a free event—no ticket or registration required. The 2025 host band is the John Lumpkin Trio featuring Ryan Devlin.
• Intuition Bier Hall: 929 E Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

CLICK MAP TO EXPAND

For full event details, visit the schedule page on our website.

Thank you for your interest in attending the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Please be advised that bag checks will be in place, and that all guests must go through metal detection screening before entering the event.

The following items are prohibited from the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival:

• No hard-sided coolers, soft or rolling coolers larger than 6-pack size.
• No outside alcohol
• No smoking
• No personal tents, shade canopies or other shelters/shacks, sport-brellas, etc.
• No beach or pole-style umbrellas (over 63”)
• No wagons or pull-carts with 4 wheels
• No pets (except for service animals)
• No grills
• No non-Factory sealed water for personal consumption
• No picnic or catering meals
• No professional video and audio recording equipment or noise making devices
• No weapons (knives, guns, explosives, or any items that can be construed as a weapon other than permitted pursuant to Fla. Stat. §790.06)
• No illegal substances of any kind and other contraband
• No personal transport devices such as skates, skateboards, bicycles, scooters, hoverboards, segways, golf carts, etc.
• No projectiles including Balls and Frisbees
• No signs/flags larger than 2’x3′
• No drones or other flying objects
• No unauthorized soliciting and vending
• No laser pointers
• No inserting stakes, poles, or any other objects into the ground, or use of ropes, cords, tape, etc. to reserve space
• No other items deemed unacceptable by the City of Jacksonville

Items allowed into the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival:

• 1 (one) factory-sealed bottled water per person.
• Baby formula, snacks for children, or medically necessary food. 
• Standard size, single collapsible chairs with canopy. 1 (one) chair per person.
• Wheelchairs and medical scooters
• Push strollers for children
• 2 wheel carts
• Personal-sized umbrellas
• Blankets and group tarps – 6’x8’ or less, leaving enough space around each blanket/tarp for safe foot passage

NOTE: The City of Jacksonville reserves the right to adjust these lists at anytime without notice.

Public parking for the festival is available at several locations surrounding Tailgaters Parking.

Parking fees will start at $25 + tax for many lots. Most will be cashless, so please have a card available for payment. However, some privately operated lots may still accept cash.

The following festival lots will operate during the below hours: Lot A, Lot B (ADA Only), Lot C, Lot D, Lot J, Lot Z, Extra Point Lot, VIP North and VIP South will operate during the below hours. 

• Open: 2 hours before festival gates each day
• Admission ends: 30 minutes before festival end
  
  • Friday: Open at 2:00 PM, Close at 10:30 PM
  • Saturday: Open at 1:00 PM, Close at 10:30 PM
  • Sunday: Open at 1:00 PM, Close at 10:00 PM

Please note: VIP North and VIP South are reserved for Premium Experience pass holders. Bryan Street, Hart Bridge, and Time Out lots are not available for general public use.

Privately Managed Parking (Sold Separately)

• Half Time Lot:
  
  • Open: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
  • Time: Opens at 3:30 PM each day
  • Cost: $30 – Must purchase in advance at tailgatersparking.saffire.com
• Old Cypress Lot
• WJCT

CLICK MAP TO EXPAND

Regularly check this page for the most up-to-date parking times, availability, and maps.

If you are interested in utilizing JTA services as transportation alternative, please visit the Hotel & Travel Information page for details.

OPTION 1: In-Office Pickup

Deadline: Wednesday, May 21 at 3:00 PM

Pickup Location:
City of Jacksonville – Ed Ball Building
214 N. Hogan Street, 4th Floor, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Pickup Hours:

• Monday, May 19 & Tuesday, May 20 : 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Wednesday, May 21: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Parking Info:
Metered parking is available around the building. The Ed Ball Garage entrance is located near Monroe and Julia Streets, with building access from the garage on the second floor.

What to Bring:

• Valid photo ID
• Order confirmation (printed or mobile)
  Note: The name on your ID must match the name on your order.

OPTION 2: Festival Site Pickup

If you are unable to pick up your package in advance, you may collect it at the festival site during the designated times listed below.

Festival Pickup Location:
Premium Experience Pickup Tent
Near the intersection of Gator Bowl Blvd, Talleyrand Ave, and Adams St.

Use: 1680 Adams St E, Jacksonville, FL 32202 for navigation. See below map for reference.

Look for the white tent with Premium Experience Pickup signage. A small parking lot adjacent to Lot E / VIP North will have spaces available for short-term pickup.

Pickup Hours:

• Friday, May 23: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Saturday, May 24: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Sunday, May 25: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Please arrive within the scheduled hours each day. If you arrive outside these windows, we will not be able to provide your wristbands for that day.

What to Bring:

• Valid photo ID
• Order confirmation (printed or mobile)
  Note: The name on your ID must match the name on your order.

CLICK TO EXPAND MAP

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• This will be the only location available for Premium Experience guests to pick up wristbands at the festival. It is imperative that you visit the Premium Experience Pickup Tent prior to parking, as your package may contain your parking pass if you purchased VIP.
• Your wristband is required for access to Premium Experience areas within Tailgaters Parking.
• Wristbands are color-coded and date-specific (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Full Festival). Please ensure you are wearing the correct wristband each day.
• Replacement wristbands will not be issued once they have been picked up.

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is free to attend, no ticket required! Just bring a lawn chair for the Hart Bridge Stage presented by Publix, located at Tailgaters Parking, comfortable shoes and good energy for the weekend! For guests wanting to upgrade their time at the festival, packages for our Premium Experience areas presented by JAA for the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival will be on sale beginning Friday, February 7th! Information regarding package pricing and inclusions can be found on the VIP and Preferred Seating pages. Quantities will be extremely limited, so don't wait!

Please note: All Premium Experience packages are non-refundable. This festival is a rain or shine event and all performers are subject to time change or cancellation.  The Jacksonville Jazz Festival will not facilitate the transfer or reselling of any packages. For additional FAQ's regarding packages, please visit the VIP and Preferred Seating pages.

The City of Jacksonville is committed to creating a safe and enjoyable event experience for all. When attending a City of Jacksonville Event  produced by the Office of Sports and Entertainment, please refrain from the following:

• Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, threatening or illegal in nature, including fighting and physical harassment
• Foul, harassing or abusive language towards other attendees or staff
• Unreasonably obstructing the view or pathways to areas within the event walkways
• Smoking (including e-cigarettes)
• Intoxication or other signs of alcohol or substance impairment
• Obscene or offensive gestures, signage or clothing, including the use of such language or gestures concerning a person's race, ethnicity, color, gender, religion, creed, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or national origin; or to instigate, incite or encourage a confrontation or physical assault.
• Interference with the attendee event experience
• Being in possession of forbidden items (see list of event’s Prohibited Items), outside alcohol, and/ or illegal substances within the event perimeter.
• Conduct that results in damage to the event venue or other real or personal property.

Attendees are expected to follow all safety instructions from event staff, law enforcement, and security personnel. Please report any concerns or suspicious activity immediately. Violating this Code of Conduct may result in removal without refund and a ban prohibiting attendance at future events. Event organizers reserve the right to change this Code of Conduct at any time, so please check for updates before attending.

We hope you have an enjoyable and memorable event experience. Thank you for doing your part to support a positive & safe environment for everyone!

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is a rain or shine event. However, in the case of inclement weather, as determined by the festival’s Emergency Operations Command, performances may be rescheduled or cancelled. The safety of all attendees and performers is our top priority.

If weather conditions require an evacuation, attendees are encouraged to seek shelter in their vehicles until it is safe to return.

Stay tuned to official festival social media channels for real-time updates during the event.

The 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival will feature one incredible stage presented by Publix, located inside Tailgaters Parking! This stage will operate during specific hours, Friday–Sunday, bringing the music to life in the heart of Jacksonville!

Thank you for your interest in participating in the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival! The application submission period for performer consideration closed at 11:59pm on February 6, 2025. Performers or alternates will not be considered for the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival if they did not complete the application during the scheduled entry period. Admissions will not be accepted after the entry period has closed. Performers will not be accepted for consideration via email, social media, phone, mail or in-person.

Please note: To receive email notification of future Jacksonville Jazz Festival performer application availability, please CLICK HERE to sign up.

Thank you for your interest in becoming one of our Jacksonville Jazz Festival vendors! Unfortunately, our applications have already closed and we are not accepting any additional vendors for the 2025 festival.

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The application submission period for Food and Beverage Vendors closed at 11:59 p.m. on March 4, 2025. Vendor selection notification begins March 14.

The application submission period for the Jazz Marketplace closed at 11:59pm on March 21, 2025. Marketplace vendor selection notifications will begin April 4th.

PLEASE NOTE: Once applications close, no additional vendors are accepted for consideration. Completing any application for the City of Jacksonville Office of Sports & Entertainment does not guarantee acceptance into this year’s event. Selected vendors are required to meet the guidelines of the City of Jacksonville Office of Sports & Entertainment.

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HOW TO GET NOTIFIED IN THE FUTURE: Food vendors and Marketplace vendors will not receive the same emails. To ensure you receive relevant updates and opportunities, please select the correct email notification list:

• If you are interested in becoming a vendor within the Jazz Marketplace, please CLICK HERE to receive email notifications for future opportunities.
• If you are interested in becoming a Food Vendor at one of the many events produced by the City of Jacksonville's Office of Sports and Entertainment, including the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, please CLICK HERE to receive email notifications for future opportunities.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a sponsor for the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. For available opportunities, please email JaxJazzFest@coj.net.

Thank you for your interest in covering the 2025 Jacksonville Jazz Festival! The application submission deadline was 11:59pm on April 30, 2025.

Please visit the Get Involved page for Media Credential requirements, guidelines and information for future years.

For additional assistance and information, please email us at JaxJazzFest@coj.net.

We’re glad to know you love our commemorative posters just as much as we do! The 2025 commemorative poster designed by Stin Hrycajkiw is available for pre-order now from the Official Jacksonville Jazz Festival Store.

Visit the Commemorative Poster page to check out her awesome design featuring the iconic Gatorland Gator statue, currently residing in Met Park.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering! Please register to volunteer for this year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival at https://cityofjacksonville.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/ and if you have any questions, please email us at JaxJazzFest@coj.net.