From talented up-and-coming high school bands to numerous professional musicians sharing local stages, there鈥檚 no question Nanaimo is a jazz city, says Andrew Homzy.

As the president and his team prepare to host the city鈥檚 third annual musical celebration Sept. 20-22, he reflects on the genre鈥檚 popularity across Vancouver Island: 鈥淛azz is both artistic and fun. It really has a foot in both worlds of art and entertainment,鈥� he says.

With a mission to 鈥渞aise the cultural profile of downtown Nanaimo and the Old City Quarter,鈥� many of the festival鈥檚 鈥渇amily-friendly鈥� events will be held , the only public space in the country named for a Canadian jazz musician.

Here some great reasons to check out the Nanaimo Jazz Festival:

• Sensational September jazz If you鈥檙e looking for a great musical destination on this first weekend of fall, the festival is packed with 14 events 鈥� 10 of which are free 鈥� ranging from outdoor and indoor concerts, student workshops and the ever-popular New Orleans second-line parade, starting at noon on the Saturday from the corner of Fitzwilliam and Selby streets!
• Acclaimed artists on stage Headliners include Grammy-winning jazz and rhythm & blues saxophonist , who joins his bandmates in concert at the Port Theatre on Saturday, Sept. 21. A featured soloist on many Marvin Gaye albums in the 1970s, he played for 20 years with The Tonight Show Band. Watts opens the festival with a workshop at VIU from 11 am. to 2 p.m. And on Sept. 22, Juno Award-winning hits the Port Theatre stage. One of jazz鈥檚 brightest young stars and now almost two decades into a successful career, she鈥檒l perform with fellow Juno winner, veteran Canadian jazz saxophonist Phil Dwyer.
• Festival passes offer great value You can or call the box office at 250-754-8550, with a four-event package costing $115, saving you $25 over individual event tickets. and receive a discount ticket code, giving you all four events for $90 鈥� that鈥檚 a $50 savings over general admission!

Find out why there鈥檚 a buzz around Nanaimo and the mid-Island about this fun and fabulous musical event.

鈥淭he festival really is a gift to the city,鈥� Homzy says, crediting the foresight of festival sponsors and supporters for allowing the festival to grow and thrive. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just so much energy in the air.鈥�

Learn more at and stay tuned to the latest festival news .