The Vancouver Jazz Festival is one of the most highly anticipated events throughout the year in a city that has a jam-packed events schedule. The entertainment scene in the city of Vancouver is diverse and includes jazz and blues, alternative rock and roll, punk rock, hip-hop, and folk, to name a few. The Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival was borne from a local and regional jazz scene that was promoted on a local Vancouver radio station called CFRO-FM in the early part of the 1980s. Since the scene was thriving as much as it was and there was an obvious demand for an event to bring together jazz players and fans, the first permutation of the Vancouver Jazz Festival was formed.

When the festival first started in 1984 it was called the Pacific Jazz and Blues Festival. It was essentially an exhibition of the best regional talent in the realm of jazz and blues music. Two years later, the organization that put on the festival changed its name to the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society and teamed up with Expo 86 to offer to the public the first annual Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival. It has grown in popularity ever since. Nowadays, thousands of people from all over North America and beyond descend upon Vancouver to check out some of the best jazz performers anywhere to be found. Corporate sponsorship is no longer any problem and there are even Vancouver Jazz Festival packages available for those people looking to purchase tickets for the whole event.

The lineup at the first annual Vancouver Jazz Festival was nothing short of staggering. It comprised not just some of the biggest names in jazz music at the time, but rather some of the greatest names in the history of jazz music in general. Miles Davis, Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, Tito Puente, and Albert Collins were just a few of the legends who took the stage in 1986 to kick off what has become one of the most popular events year round in Vancouver. The Vancouver Jazz Festival draws nearly 500,000 people every year. There are over 400 performances that include nearly 150 free concerts. It is easily the largest jazz and blues festival in the province of British Columbia. People descend upon the city’s multitude of entertainment venues, including clubs, theaters, concert halls, and even some nightlife venues. The entire city is alive with excitement and the vibrant jazz scene can be felt in every corner of Vancouver.

Vancouver Map

The Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival is held at the end of August every year in Esther Short Park. If you are considering making the trip, you should certainly look into any available Vancouver Jazz Festival packages to see if you can realize any savings on your tickets. While at the festival, you will be able to not only enjoy the awesome jazz music, but also tons of awesome food and beverages that will keep you satisfied for days. There are Vancouver Jazz Festival packages available for one-day passes, two-day passes, and discounts for people who purchase for all three days.