Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival
Looking for something to do this weekend? Then head to the 13th Annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 28 on Columbus Avenue between Massachusetts Avenue and Burke Street in Boston’s South End. Taking place from noon to 6 pm, the 13th edition of the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival will feature three stages of live music, arts, crafts, a family park and even an instrument petting zoo. The festival is open to all ages and, best of all, its free! Once the six-hour festival is over, check out some of the other Boston Attractions that are available in the area. Berklee Stage in Boston Over the years, the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival has drawn tens of thousands of fans and featured a wide variety of groups, including Latin, blues, and groove acts. With more than 70 vendors, 15 performing acts and an unlimited amount of improvisational potential, the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival is definitely the place to be this weekend. To find other great area attractions and deals, use the Go Boston Card. In order to help celebrate this year’s theme, Jazz: The Next Generation, the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival will feature performances by the Berklee City Music All-Stars Big Band Jazz Group, Giorgi Mikadze Group, The Simon Moullier Quartet, Jazz Revelations Student Band, Matt Jenson and the Liquid Revolution, Rick DiMuzio Quintet Featuring Lage Lund, The Bell Affair Featuring Karen Bell, Berklee P-Funk Ensemble, Matt Savage Quartet Featuring Bobby Watson, Mike Tucker Trio +1 Featuring Warren Wolf, Meshell Ndegeocello, Will Calhoun Trio, Berklee Global Jazz Ambassadors Featuring Adam Cruz, Lawrence "Larry" Watson and the Workforce, Christian Scott, Robin McKelle and the Flytones, Gary Burton, Snarky Puppy and Kneebody. The festival’s artistic director, Terri Lyne Carrington, toured for more than 20 years with artists like Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz and David Sanborn before returning home to Massachusetts to teach at Berklee, her alma mater. Carrington shared her thoughts about this year’s “Next Generation” theme: “Mentoring has always been an important part of the continuance and advancement of jazz, so we are proud to recognize some mentor-mentee relationships with the coming year's festival. The next generation of creative musicians is quite strong, and having stood on the shoulders of their predecessors, are now hopefully prepared for unlimited boundaries. How exciting to witness and be a part of this process!” While the festival is going on, “High Notes of Jazz Roxbury” mini tours will also be taking place. Starting at 2, 3, 4 and 5 pm, High Note tours will bring guests through what was once known as Boston's "jazz mecca," Lower Roxbury. Tour guests will learn about an area that was once home to some of the most famous clubs and after-hours venues on the East Coast and hear personal anecdotes and stories told by former musicians, residents and club owners. Tickets for the tour cost $5 and will be sold at the Discover Roxbury booth. Another popular area excursion is a tour of the Samuel Adams Brewery. Directions and accommodation info for the festival is available here. Looking for things to do in Boston and discounts on attractions and tours? Learn how to save money with a Go Boston Card discount attractions pass by Smart Destinations.