(July) The Norfolk Jazz Festival is southern Virginia’s longest-running smooth jazz event, presenting two days of live music over one weekend in late July every year. The NJF has presented the top names in smooth jazz in its 29 years, including Ramsey Lewis, the Rippingtons and Spyro Gyra. Many local and regional artists are also featured every year.
The festival takes place at Town Point Park, right on the waterfront in downtown Norfolk, with gates opening at 5 p.m. each evening, and music playing from 5:30 p.m. until midnight. Food and beverages are available at the Festival, but attendees are forbidden to bring alcohol into the festival grounds. For those traveling to the NJF in aquatic style, parkside docking is available (by reservation) to all ticketed passengers of boats up to 35′ in length.
- Public Transportation: Poor
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Performances/Programs: Approximately three performers per evening of the festival.
