Jazz FestivalThe Wangaratta Festival of Jazz was conceived in 1989 by a group of local business people who wanted to establish a significant event for their town and region. An event that would be unique and that would attract many tourists to the area. Launched in 1990, the annual Wangaratta Festival of Jazz is one of Australia's biggest regional music events, and has been acclaimed by fans, musicians and critics as Australia's premier jazz festival. It enjoys Tourism Victoria's Hallmark Event status, having won the Victorian Tourism Award for regional events three times, and the Australian Tourism Award in 1999 for Regional Festivals of Events.
About the Festival
The Festival's main program features a schedule of over 80 events at various venues, ranging from the performing arts centre, the magnificent cathedral to marquees, pubs and wineries in nearby Milawa, Oxley and Taminick. Blues lovers have their own marquee on the banks of the Ovens River.
Fesival goers purchase a festival pass (wristband) and this allows entry into all the participating venues, allowing patrons to choose which performances suits them best. Additional ticketed events include a Black Tie Dinner and the popular Cup Eve Concert.
In addition to a great lineup of jazz and blues performances, there is also the opportunity to enjoy quality wines and gourmet food for which the surrounding region is renowned. One of the main streets in Wangaratta, Reid Street, is closed to traffic and becomes a wonderful food and wine market with a free jazz stage, with music all weekend.
On the Sunday, Ovens Street in the centre of town is closed and becomes a huge market. If you have a quality product to sell and are interested in having a stall please email tourism@wangaratta.vic.gov.au
2011 Festival
The festival will be staged over the Melbourne Cup Day Weekend of Friday, October 28 - Monday, October 31.
Artistic director Adrian Jackson is busy finalising another international class line up featuring the very best range of jazz talents from around Australia and many places abroad. It will again be a very exciting and innovative program which will delight jazz lovers and further enhance the festival's reputation as the country's "number one" event.
On top of that, of course, is the Blues program, which continues to draw big crowds throughout the whole weekend.
Add in the traditiional Black Tie opening dinner, the National Jazz Awards, the jazz workshops and of course the hugely popular Reid Street free stage program, and 2011, the 22nd year, looks set to be an absolute cracker.
Sunday Market
The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz Sunday Market promises to bigger and better than ever this year! The market, held in Ovens Street, with it's Make It, Bake It, Grow It theme and will have something for everyone including jewellery, alpaca products, jams, sauces, homemade pasta, plants, dolls and much much more. This year the King George Gardens will also feature some wonderful community stalls and some free acitvities for your enjoyment.
Jazz Festival Accommodation l Jazz Festival Website l Other Events in the Region
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