The Atlanta Jazz Festival’s 42nd year of free jazz concerts will delight and entertain in Piedmont Park over Memorial Day Weekend, May 25 – 26, 2019. Presented by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, The Atlanta Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in the country, and is known for discovering talented up-and-coming artists, as well as making the work of jazz legends accessible to residents of and visitors to the city.

The 2019 Festival features three new stages: the Meadow Stage, the Oak Hill Stage and the Park Drive Stage. On Sunday, the Meadow Stage will feature all Atlanta artists including The Milkshake Quintet, Alex Lattimore, Gary Motley, Rhonda Thomas and The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra. The Oak Hill Stage and the Park Drive Stage also will spotlight a wide range of musical talent such as Kandace Springs, Richard Bona, OKCello and Rhonda Ross & Rodney Kendrick. Following Saturday night’s line-up in the Park, the popular Late Night Jazz Jam will take place at Park Tavern at 10 p.m. This year’s event features a Herbie Hancock tribute by Lil’ John Roberts and The Senators with a special appearance by Bill Summers, one of the original members of The Headhunters.

“We are fortunate to be able to showcase the talents of so many artists year after year at the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Jazz is a musical genre that can get overlooked, but at this festival we are able to showcase rising talent in the genre while also honoring jazz legends that have influenced today’s sounds,” says Camille Russell Love, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

The Atlanta Jazz Festival not only highlights musical artists, but also spotlights visual artists. The Artist Market is the place to find rare and collectible artwork while supporting local artists. For the first time this year, 10 lucky Atlanta artists will display and sell their work as part of an Art Village Lottery meant to increase the accessibility of little known Atlanta artists’ works. Other booths featuring eclectic and handcrafted goods will line the park’s sidewalks, along with a variety of food and drinks available for purchase.

Keep a lookout for the 2019 Festival’s official artwork, African Jazz #10 by Michael A. Cummings, which will be included on Festival posters and T-shirts located at Atlanta Jazz Festival merchandise booths. His original works can be seen at Gallery 72 through June 6, 2019.

Along with a strong focus on the arts, the Atlanta Jazz Festival has always been a family-friendly event. Once again the Publix Kid Zone and Baby Rest Stop will return in The Meadow at Piedmont Park. The Kid Zone will be filled with fun for kids of all ages, including inflatables, face painters and more. There will also be changing tables and a designated area for nursing mothers – all free of charge. The hours for The Kid Zone are 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 25 – 26, during the Festival.