Summer is the perfect time to sit back and relax to the sounds of cool and soulful jazz. And the perfect opportunity will be at Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival to be held at SPAC on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July1.
The festival is in its 35th year and will offer two venues to enjoy jazz greats at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s amphitheater stage and the gazebo stage. Tickets are $55 and children under 12 are free, as is parking.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson has also declared June as Jazz Month following a proclamation adopted by the New York State Senate. Sen. Roy McDonald was the lead sponsor of the resolution.
“For 35 years, the City of Saratoga has warmly welcomed thousands of fans each June for this world-class event, which draws jazz and music lovers from across the Northeast and beyond,” said Johnson.
SPAC President and Executive Director Marcia White said the proclamation was “an incredible honor”.
New this year is an encore series on the gazebo stage and brewer Stella Artois, which is sponsoring the lawn area between the two stages known as “the hang.”
“We’re bringing back jazz artists who have played at the gazebo in previous years … a lot of people were asking for artists to come back and they wanted a repeat of them at the festival. This is kind of a thank you to all those loyal jazz fans who have come back every year,” said Jazz Fest Marketing Assistant Laura Stewart.
Many artists have indeed returned to SPAC, like Diana Krall.
“This is her fourth appearance at the festival. She tops both jazz and pop with her songs and we’re really excited to have her returning,” said Stewart.
Other big acts include Trombone Shorty, reportedly a favorite of the Obamas, pianist/composer Hiromi and Chris Botti. Stewart said Botti is the largest selling American jazz instrumental artist, and he’ll be returning for a fourth appearance
SPAC’s economic impact on the Spa City is great, and the jazz festival one of the year’s biggest events, bringing nearly 15,000 guests to the city.
“The festival generates a tremendous amount of revenue to shop owners and to people who own hotels and town merchants,” said White.
She added that the SPAC season as a whole generates about $100million for the immediate community, and that the festival is thought by many to be “the best jazz festival.
“There is no greater example of that than the capacity crowds that fill our hotels and stroll our downtown areas on the weekend of the jazz festival,” said Cindy Hollowood, general manager of the Holiday Inn and chairwoman of the NYS Hospitality and Tourism Association.
The redesigned Patron’s Terrace, along with the amphitheater’s new façade, are elements that have brought much attention to SPAC as of late. White is very proud of the upgrades and noted that they add to the whole experience.
On the season as a whole she said that it comes at a time “when people need it the most.”
“It’s at a time when its summer and people really to take this great time and spend time together and with their families, and what better place to come to a beautiful pristine park?” she said. “We have so much variety there. … It’s joining the community and having the world’s greatest classical and contemporary music in the world.”
Attendees are welcome to bring their own food and drink and there will be many food vendors on site. The Hall of Springs will feature a southern style barbeque along with a Fine Arts and Crafts Fair and a kid’s craft area.
“It’s a spectacular way to start the season in Saratoga… We think it’s going to be one of our stellar years,” White said.
For more information on the festival and SPAC, visit spac.org.
