The fourth annual Jazz By The Boulevard Music and Arts Festival, scheduled for this weekend, will offer an expected 50,000 music lovers various types of jazz and cultural performances, said the event’s producer.”There’s something for everyone,” said festival producer Donna VanNess. “And it’s for a good cause.”
According to the Jazz By The Boulevard Web site, the festival is a fundraiser to preserve and beautify the Camp Bowie district, which is the historic site of museums, shops and restaurants.
Three hundred volunteers will help produce the event, including six members of TCU’s Chi Omega sorority.
Students in Chi O volunteered at last year’s festival and are excited to be helping again, said Katherine Martin, Chi O’s community service chair.
“It’s fun volunteering and interacting with people in the community,” she said. “Students should attend to hear the talent of the musicians and to experience local culture.”
Joey Carter, an adjunct professor in the school of music, and his band will perform a concert tribute to jazz artist Thelonious Monk at 5 p.m. Friday on the Heritage stage.
“Culturally, the jazz festival is a great thing,” Carter said. “It’s a fun place to hang out and hear a wide variety of world-class musicians.”
In addition to exposing the public to the culture of Camp Bowie, VanNess said the goal of the festival is to appreciate the arts.
“We hope to make people aware of the history and culture of jazz,” VanNess said.
Booths will be set up for 70 professional artists, and the event will also include a cooking carnival pavilion including wine seminars, specialty food vendors and cooking demonstrations by area chefs.
Exhibits of jazz archives, memorabilia, photos, art and video documentaries of legendary Fort Worth jazz musicians will be displayed, as well as art showcases and wine seminars, VanNess said.
Some of Fort Worth’s Hurricane Katrina evacuees will be performing in a musical parade at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The fundraiser will be produced by Historic Camp Bowie, a non-profit organization that works to revitalize Fort Worth’s historic district.
