Ok where to start?, the stadium? it was a very bad idea, this festival needs to be messy like a couchman park; the food?-worse, not too many options even in the VIP area; the music?, great jazz musicians but only 3 on Saturday? that was not enough...Please next year just keep the festival at couchman park, we like the messiness, we like to bring our own chairs, we like all food trucks, we just like the way it is...thank you read more

Jazz Holiday is always a wonderful event and one of the many reasons I love living in Florida. The bands this year on Friday were New Orleans based with a great sound. I have to say and not to be political by no form but to see all kinds of people just jamming to the same music made my heart sing because isn't this how it's suppose to be. The event is very safe family fun. Date fun or group of friends fun. and you can bring a chair or blanket the price of food and drink is typical. One thing to know they only serve beer and wine. You can buy by the glass or a bottle. If you buy bottle it's a flat $20 and they put it in a one of those sip bottles with a spout I fondly call sippy cups haha. Take a chair or blanket. I also take a small table and my own plastic wine glass because I'm a Diva can not bring any outside food or drink. They will check your bag. Get in early better yet take free shuttle from certain locations save money on parking and have a wonderful evening of live music read more

My employer is a main sponsor for the jazz fest every year. My boss gave us VIP hospitality tickets to check it out last night. We arrived at 5 shorty after it started. Because of our passes we were able to score a great parking spot right away and walk to the entrance gate a few feet away. We were a bit confused about where the special hospitality area was but everyone working the event was friendly and helped us. Upon arriving we grabbed a beer and dinner, which was catered by pipos Cuban and was very tasty. The little old lady serving beer at the tent was extremely strict about getting IDs for my friend and I (although we clearly had already received "drinking age verified" wristbands) and even completely forgot about having already IDd us again when we went back for a second beer 10 minutes later. Someone was a bit confused.... Two drinks into the evening, it was still very hot and sunny so we grabbed a seat in the shade and watched a Latin jazz performance group. They were very talented and brought a fun vibe to the crowd, many people were movin' and groovin' around. Next up came Jane Monheit, which is who I was most interested in seeing. She is truly fabulous and so very talented. I really enjoyed her performance. Also by this time the sun had set and it was much more enjoyable to be outside since it cooled down. For those who have general admission tickets I recommend bringing a chair and make shift fan to make it more relaxing. Overall this was a fantastic evening. One of the reasons I love living in Clearwater is due to all the fantastic cultural events we have here like the jazz fest. And when it's at a nice park right by the beautiful water it's even better read more

Clearwater Jazz Holiday - Performing Arts Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

First, it's hot & general admission visitors are not permitted umbrellas ( even the chair attached type) 2nd, the facilities are filthy....as one would not ever be expected to endure. This is no longer a free venue so at the very least rest rooms should be acceptable Lastly, only one bottle of water is permitted per person..... Did I say it was hot? I expected much more ....discomfort became more obvious than the music read more

Great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. My second time to attend, and I will be back next year. I like the young people's big bands that play on Sunday every year. It's amazing to see so many young people that are so talented. read more

Clearwater Jazz Holiday - Young peoples jazz band. Amazing sound. - Performing Arts Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Very disappointed this year. I have gone last 5 yrs general admission but this year I splurged on VIP tickets to have good food and drinks as advertised and not have to drag chairs in. What a joke- 1st food terrible , only option for vegetarian was dry salad, chicken thighs fatty and mac n cheese, never believe the Living Room provided this bullshit menu at almost $200 a tix! Next bar- one red wine option of a no name brand, bud or shock top?? Complete rip off City of Clearwater!! Now the kicker the headliner cancels and no refunds, complete washout and still no refunds! Oh and new this year Scientologist cult members everywhere accosting you on every corner and even at the gate! Downtown will never be the successful cities like Dunedin and St Pete with this city allowing them to do this. Done with Jazz festival and Coachman Park for any future venues. read more

Great Venue plus it's free always with a great artist line up. Last evening was Kevin Eubank's and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. FANTASTIC shows. My only gripe is if you are going to bring in bands that provoke the notion of dancing then please don't put all the dang chairs up front for the "VIP's". Trombone shorty is not about sitting down and chilling to the smoothest spot on the dial. So if you are behind the chairs and do get up, you get all the squatters wanting you to sit down. Same thing happened last year and the year before. I know the VIP's pay and they deserve a spot. But based on the size of those sections it's borderline free. Perhaps consider charging a nominal fee so even so there is a space up front for people that did not come to sit but rather get their groove on. Music stirs the soul. Not everybody wants theirs stirred sitting down. read more

I have been going to the Clearwater jazz holiday for over 20 years but this 2018 event will probably be my last. The setting is wonderful and they have gotten some excellent acts, but the organizers have just gotten too greedy. If you have a history of going to this event, you will remember how for years it was free. Families would bring a picnic basket and a blanket and enjoy a wonderful venue. Now they do not allow you to bring in food or drink. Families can not even bring in water for their children. They make you buy tickets and pay $3.00 for each water. They did have eight craft beers this year, but they charged $8.00 for 10 ounces and ran out early. Plus they do not allow you to reenter. Therefore if you want to see an act at the beginning of the day and an act at the end of the day, you can't leave and come back. You have to stay there and buy their overpriced food and drink. Last year we bought scalped VIP tickets at a greatly reduced price ($25). We would not pay even the reduced price in the future. The chairs and seating were terrible, the buffet line was sad and that there was nothing you would want to drink for the drink tickets. We have been to outdoor concerts all over the country. There are so many concerts, many in Florida, that care more about the music and creating an enduring venue than just vacuuming your wallet. The organizers have ruined what was once in a beautiful thing. read more

Two gripes: If you're in the sitting section, stay seated, please. It only takes a small critical mass of people to stand up to set forth everyone else having to do it. Those tickets are like 50 bucks. A LOT of us paid extra just to sit down. Don't be selfish. Your concert experience won't be enhanced by standing. The Avett Brothers will still be awesome regardless. Why is the bandshell oriented so that the crowd has to stare directly into the sun from like 3pm till sundown? Rotate that thing like 90 degrees, please. read more