Introducing the official 2017 Telluride Jazz Festival schedule! This year's schedule brings back festival favorites like the New Orleans 2nd Line Parade, many enhanced events like "Wine & Whiskey" and a new "Jazz Art Walk", free late night series “Liberty Sessions” and a closing show, “The Final Waltz”. Get ready for a full weekend of entertainment and fun with music on the Main Stage and Free Stage at Elks Park, complemented by may special events.
Thursday, August 3rd
To kick off the festival, Thursday features a new “Jazz Art Walk” in historic Downtown Telluride. Free and open to the public from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, the "Jazz Art Walk" will feature four different galleries with fine art and live jazz. Thursday evening will also host exclusive events for Patron Experience pass-holders, including a welcoming reception at Rustico Ristorante followed by a private, opening concert with headliner Macy Gray at the Sheridan Opera House.
Friday, August 4th
Friday provides a full day of programming on both stages in addition to a revamped wine and distillery tasting inside the festival, named “Wine & Whiskey”. The “Wine & Whiskey” tasting is complimentary with a festival pass, includes a commemorative sampling glass and features samples from premium distilleries, wineries from Colorado and beyond.
After the festival ends in Town Park Friday and Saturday night, the music continues with “Jazz After Dark” shows located in various venues throughout Telluride. The new “Jazz After Dark” pass grants access to all three late night venues allowing festival-goers to wander freely between shows. Patron Experience and ‘All That Jazz” passes include entry into all Jazz After Dark Shows.
Following the “Jazz After Dark” shows, a new late night series named “Liberty Sessions” will take place at Telluride’s recent addition, The Liberty Bar & Lounge. Free and open to the public, the series will feature The McCarthy Trio on Friday and The Bob Montgomery and Josh Quinlan Sextet on Saturday. View the full Late Night schedule here.
Saturday August 5th
Saturday, features a full day of entertainment on both stages in addition to a new Historical Walking Tour presented by the Telluride Historical Museum. Presenter and long-time resident Ashley Boling will guide visitors through Telluride’s storied past and celebrated landmarks. More information and reservations will be available soon.
Sunday, August 6th
The final day of the festival starts on a lively note as Festival staff, attendees and the Cha Wa Mardi Gras Indian Band take to Main Street for a New Orleans-style Second Line Parade. Everyone is welcome and colorful floats, costumes, beads and decorations are encouraged. The parade is followed by a full day of entertainment on both stages. Sunday will also host a new, complimentary tasting, “Bubbles & Bloodies” featuring a variety of sparkling wine and Bloody Mary’s.
Sunday night closes out the festival on a high-note with a new, “The Final Waltz” late night show featuring Vaud & the Villains at the historic Sheridan Opera House. Tickets for The Final Waltz are $20 per person and will go on sale Wednesday, May 24 at 10:00 am (MT).
Free Stage at Elks Park
Throughout the weekend, artist workshops on the Free Stage at Elks Park will promote the festival’s mission of providing student education through music. These intimate and interactive classes are open to the public and take place in the heart of historic downtown Telluride in the grassy outdoor amphitheater at Elks Park. Artist workshops give you a chance to interact with festival artists while learning about jazz culture, history and methods. Festival artists FatsO, Ranky Tanky, Davina and the Vagabonds and more have been tapped to perform and speak.
Festival tickets are on sale now. Early Bird 3-Day are still available in very limited quantities. Single day tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 10:00 am (MT).