The ninth annual Gulf Coast Summer Fest Jazz Edition – taking place Sept. 18 through 21 – is gearing up for a weekend of music and jubilation at Community Maritime Park. The festival draws a variety of people from around the world for a stacked bill of contemporary smooth jazz.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Gulf Coast Summer Fest Jazz Edition.
What is Gulf Coast Summer Fest?
Gulf Coast Summer Fest is an outdoor jazz festival specifically created for Escambia County and hosted by Morris Baxter and DJ Bam Bam Belonge. Bringing it all together is William “Cadillac” Banks – a local concert promoter who has been in the business since 2007. He began his career booking R&B performers, but since the start of the Gulf Coast Summer Fest Jazz Edition, his focus has been on drawing contemporary smooth jazz artists to the yearly event.
Banks has said people from as far as Canada, England and Japan come to Pensacola for the music fest.
When and where is Gulf Coast Summer Fest?
The All White Party kicks things off at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Sanders Beach-Corinne Jones Resource Center, 913 South I St.
The Gulf Coast Summer Fest Jazz Edition is set to take place at 2 p.m. Sept. 19 through 21 at the Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park, 301 W. Main St. Gates will open at 1 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs, coolers and umbrellas to help them enjoy eight hours of nonstop jazz. No tents, tables, grills, glass containers or people younger than 18 will be allowed in the venue.
How much will it cost to attend Gulf Coast Summer Fest?
There are special three-day limited tickets for $150, general admission one-day passes for $100, and general admission three-day passes for $170.
Preferred table seats are $360 for three days per person. Table seats will not be sold for single days and will only be available for the three-day event.
Service fees are not included. Tickets will be on sale at the Pensacola Bay Center Box Office and online at Ticketmaster.com.
All White Party tickets are $75 and can be reserved by calling 850-393-3028.
What artists can I expect to perform at Gulf Coast Summer Fest?
Thursday, Sept. 18
Friday, Sept. 19
Saturday, Sept. 20
Sunday, Sept. 21
Where can I get more information about Gulf Coast Summer Fest?
Visit gulfcoastsummerfestjazzedition.com for times and details.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Gulf Coast Summer Fest brings the hottest smooth jazz in America to the Maritime Park
Reporting by Chemarryn Thornton, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
