The 34th Annual Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz — the largest free jazz festival in New England — returns to Bushnell Park on Friday and continues through Sunday.
The free event annually attracts more than 100,000 people to watch live performances by more than a dozen jazz artists. There also will be an array of food and craft vendors.
The festival kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. with Sounds of A&R, followed at 8 p.m. by Ilya Serov, and wraps up the night at 10 p.m. with Ace Livingston & Friends’ tribute to Frankie Beverly and Maze.
This weekend’s festival line-up also includes Sean U; Stix Bones and The Bone Squad; Kemet the Time Traveler and Friends; Andrea Lisa; Art Frm Da Hart Ensemble; 3-Alarm Fire with Art Sherrod Jr., Lin Rountree, Althea Rene and Nicholas Cole; Pieces of A Dream; The GHFJ Generations Big Band with guest artists Alexa Tarantino & Tatum Greenblatt; Michelle Coltrane; Lakecia Benjamin and more.
On Saturday, the festival continues from 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
For the full weekend schedule of performances, click here.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic baskets and coolers, but cooking appliances such as portable propane or charcoal grills are prohibited.
The festival is free thanks to contributions from jazz fans and donations from foundations, businesses and corporations, in addition to grants from the city of Hartford and the state of Connecticut.
