[Archived] City of Alexandria Hosts 34th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival on Monday, May 30

For Immediate Release: May 13, 2011

The City of Alexandria will host the 34th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival on Monday, May 30, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fort Ward Park 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Admission is free. In case of inclement weather, the festival will relocate to the Lee Center Kauffman Auditorium, 1108 Jefferson St.

The performance schedule is as follows:

• 1 p.m. - The Tom Cunningham Orchestra
  Featuring big band swing music and vocals, has consistently performed in the Washington, DC area for more than 30 years winning a “Wammie” Award as the region’s outstanding big band/swing group
• 2 p.m. – The Bruce Swaim Quartet
  Featuring mainstream jazz standards and original compositions by Jay Cooley and Bruce Swaim.
• 3 p.m. – The Lovejoy Group
  Features energetic jazz, funky blues and smooth Latin rhythms, fronted by Karen Lovejoy, vocalist and bandleader
• 4 p.m. – Al Williams
  An Alexandria favorite and “Wammie” Award winner for 2008 Best Jazz Recording of the Year, specializes in contemporary jazz
• 5 p.m. – The Village Jazz Band
  Featuring traditional Dixieland jazz and upbeat New Orleans style music has been performing in the area since 1982.

Fort Ward Park features amphitheater and grass seating. Attendees of the festival can bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food, such as ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, subs, shaved ice, fresh fruit and vegetable juices are available for purchase, but everyone is welcome to pack a picnic supper and grills are available in the park at the picnic sites. No alcoholic beverages allowed, and pets should be left at home.

Parking will be available on both sides of West Braddock Rd. Additional parking is available at the Minnie Howard School, 3801 West Braddock Rd.

The public is encouraged to take public transit, walk or bike to the event. Fort Ward Park is served by DASH and Metrobus transit lines. For DASH route and schedule information, call 703.370.DASH or visit Dashbus.com.  For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visit wmata.com.

Bicyclists may visit alexandriava.gov/localmotion for the City's Bikeways Map, which features the City's best on street and off-road bikeways, as well as locations of grouped bicycle parking.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Cheryl Lawrence of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.5419 (TTY 703.838.4902), or e-mail cheryl.lawrence@alexandriava.gov.

For more information on the City of Alexandria’s Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592 or the Special Events Office at 703.746.5418.