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The Festival has a long tradition of taking place on the third weekend of July in the majestic natural setting of Cathedral Park beneath the historic St. Johns Bridge. This festival is a free 3-day event that provides a very diverse audience the opportunity to enjoy " Jazz," America's original art form. The festival has an authentic American feel, like small-town picnics on the Fourth of July.
The music line-up is truly a homegrown showcase of exceptional world-class jazz and blues talents living in the Portland area. KBOO 90.7 fm will simulcast Saturday's portion of the festival through its Full-Strength Community Radio for Portland, Oregon, Cascadia & the World! Also, KBOO will be streaming online via their website with listenership as far away as Japan and Europe.
The causal setting, fantastic view and quality of the live music create a positive ambiance that reflects on the St. Johns neighborhood in a positive way. Information booths for community organizations and sponsors and a variety of food concessions complete the community oriented festival atmosphere.
The event provides families, young people and seniors of all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds an opportunity see world-class music that most people could not experience otherwise. It's especially heartwarming to see the sense of community created among neighbors and within families. The audience is a true reflection of our diverse community.
The festival is administered and staffed through volunteer efforts and has been for all of it's long history. We're a non-profit multicultural arts organization. That means donations and grants underwrite a good portion of our costs, for which we are tremendously thankful. Our success is dependent on the continuation of this generosity.
The Cathedral Park Jazz Festival Committee is dedicated to providing a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for our guests, performers, sponsors and volunteers. The local community receives positive media exposure to the greater Portland Metro Area; this event draws attendance from the Greater Northwest. We serve the broader community by keeping the festival FREE!
