Fillmore Jazz Festival Returns This Weekend

Fillmore Jazz Festival Returns This WeekendPhotos: Rich Lee
Meaghan M. Mitchell
Published on July 03, 2015

Now in its third decade, the Fillmore Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz fest on the West Coast, is back this Fourth of July weekend. This year’s festival celebrates the discovery of new jazz musicians and the rediscovery of past festival experiences.

On Saturday, July 4th and Sunday, July 5th from 10am to 6pm, visitors can groove to the sounds of live music from multiple stages, peruse 12 blocks of fine art and crafts and indulge in plenty of food and beverages. For the full festival lineup, which includes music, dance and a pin-up costume contest, click here.

Despite the closures of businesses such as Yoshi’s Jazz Club (renamed “The Addition”), Marcus Books, Lushlife Gallery, and most recently Gussie's Chicken and Waffles, the 31st Annual Fillmore Jazz festival promises to fill in the gaps by drawing over 100,000 attendees and bringing foot traffic to local businesses.


"Jazz music is the jewel in the crown of Fillmore Street and we are proud to be a part of this vibrant community," said Vas Kiniris, President of the Fillmore Merchants Association. "The Fillmore Jazz Festival is special because it combines 3-4 different communities (Pacific Heights, Japantown, Lower Fillmore) under one cultural umbrella. We all benefit from this event!"

Local businesses such as 1300 on Fillmore, Bruno’s Pizzeria, Fat Angel, Sheba Piano Lounge, Boom Boom Room, Bumzy’s Cookies and Social Study will be open all day with food and drink specials, but The Brooklyn Circus will be the neighborhood highlight as it prepares to celebrate its seventh anniversary. Gabe Garcia, who owns the popular store at 1521 Fillmore St., will be hosting a free block party at Fillmore and O’Farrell featuring the sounds of the Official Warriors DJ D-Sharp + Andre Power + Sosupersam. The party will run from noon-6pm on Saturday (find more info here).

“I’m proud, seven years strong in the Fillmore District," said Garcia. "We really try to outdo ourselves with this block party. It’s our opportunity to give back to the residents in the neighborhood because frankly we wouldn’t be successful without them. We are filling the store with new products and select items will be 60 percent off."


Regardless of what’s changed in the neighborhood, local businesses remain optimistic and look forward to the future. If you haven’t left town for the holiday weekend, the Fillmore District is the place to be.