The Bellwether Jazz Festival returns to the Bellingham waterfront Sept. 7 and 8 for two days of jazz. The 2012 Bellwether Jazz Festival is a partnership between the Port of Bellingham and The Jazz Project, a local non-profit jazz presenting organization.
Saturday, Sept. 8, free concerts at Tom Glenn Common begin at 1 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. Performers include: Thomas Marriott Quartet (1:00), Blues Union (2:30), Crossing Borders (4:00), and Carlos Cascante’s Tumbao (5:30). The event promises a sunny day, free music, and a beer and wine garden ($5 gets you your first beverage 21+). Food vendors will be on the plaza at Tom Glenn Common, or you can pack your own picnic lunch. So bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and spread out on the grass and enjoy the music. The Bellwether Jazz Festival is a family-friendly, all ages festival.
Proceeds from the festival support valuable Jazz Project programs in our community. Sponsors for the event include: The Port and City of Bellingham, Sanitary Service, Lithtex NW, Theo Wanne Company, Boundary Bay Brewery, Noble Wines, Hotel Bellwether, Whatcom Educational Credit Union, The Boeing Company, ConocoPhillips, Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery, Giuseppe’s, Dorothy Sherwood, Joyce & Terry Busch, Ralph, Helene & Richard Kolin.
Cost: Enjoying the music is FREE! In the beer and wine garden (21+ with ID), there will be a $5 dollar entry fee that also gets you your first beverage.
Seating: We will provide patio-style chairs, benches, and tables on the plaza. Those wanting to sit on the lawn closer to the stage should bring your own blankets or lawn chairs to spread out on the grass.
Food: Food vendors will be on site including a mobile barbecue from Boundary Bay Brewery, Bavarian Pretzels from Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery, along with food from the Lighthouse Bar and Grill, Subway and others. You can bring your own picnic food to the Bellwether waterfront. Note: No ATM on site.
In addition to the free concerts, The Jazz Project is hosting a pre-festival ticketed concert and four-course dinner at Giuseppe’s restaurant on Friday, September 7. Seating begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $45 for Jazz Project members and $50 general public, available online at www.jazzproject.org . The dinner concert features international touring group Crossing Borders with Jennifer Scott, Rene Worst, Kristen Strom, Scott Sorkin, and Jud Sherwood. Seating is limited to 100 people.
To find out more, please visit the port website www.portofbellingham.com, The Jazz Project at http://www.jazzproject.org, or follow the port on Facebook for updates at www.facebook.com/portofbellingham