Gladys Knight is set to turn Dallas' Fair Park into a Labor Day groove zone when The Black Academy of Arts and Letters' Riverfront Jazz Festival returns for its ninth edition, September 4–6. The three-day event will pack indoor performances across three stages, with Friday night doubling as a 50th-season anniversary party topped by the Empress of Soul herself. Dozens of national headliners and Dallas–Fort Worth favorites will rotate through jazz, R&B, soul, and blues sets, with vendor booths and food trucks on-site. With early-bird pricing and a limited number of VIP tables, anyone eyeing prime seats will want to move quickly.
Tickets and prices
Per TBAAL Riverfront Jazz Festival, early-bird tickets are on sale now: single-day general admission is $85, a two-day 50th Season Combo runs $145, and a three-day weekend pass costs $165, with early-bird prices available from May 5 through June 30. Organizers note that applicable ticket fees apply and that VIP table packages are available for groups. The festival points fans to Ticketmaster as the official ticket distributor.
Who's on the bill
As reported by NBC 5, Friday's opening-night headliner is Gladys Knight, and the weekend lineup also includes Samara Joy, Marion Meadows, Alex Bugnon, Spyro Gyra, Afro 4 Band, and Brian McKnight, among many others. A "Promising Young Artists" stage will spotlight Dallas–Fort Worth talent, giving local musicians a share of the spotlight between the national names. NBC 5 notes that artist lineup times are posted on the festival website.
Stages and where to go
Performances are scheduled indoors across Fair Park landmarks, including the Automobile Building and the Centennial Building, with stage assignments listed on the festival's lineup page. Per TBAAL Riverfront Jazz Festival, the Automobile Building will host the main jazz stage while the Centennial Building will house the blues and soul stage. The weekend will also feature jam sessions and a dedicated space for local artists on Sunday.
Plan ahead
Ticket inventory tends to move quickly, as NBC 5 warns, and the festival's events are listed on Ticketmaster. Visitors can also find the festival highlighted among Dallas Labor Day events by Visit Dallas, which lists Fair Park as the venue. Before you go, give yourself time to double-check set times, entry policies, and vendor offerings so you can focus on the music once you are inside.
