Forest Park’s long-running Jazz in the Park is back at Central Park on Saturday, Aug. 1, celebrating its 25th anniversary with a full-on White Out bash. Grounds open at 3:30 p.m., the first performance starts at 4 p.m., and both admission and parking are free.
The City of Forest Park is treating the milestone like a giant neighborhood party. On its official Facebook page, the city is asking everyone to show up dressed in white and is teasing food trucks, local vendors and cold beer, according to the City of Forest Park Facebook post. The city’s website bills the event as the “25th Anniversary White Out Party” and lays out the basic schedule and community notes, per the City of Forest Park website.
Lineup and amenities
Fans can expect a mix of regional and local jazz acts. The event listing from Visit Cincy names Rebecca Jade, Ellis Hamilton, The Vault and Take Four, and notes that DJ Hilla Smooth will keep things moving between sets. The same listing puts the festival’s run time at roughly 4 to 10 p.m. and highlights more than a dozen food trucks, about 20 vendors, air-conditioned restrooms and free shuttle service from nearby lots.
Getting there and vendor info
Parking and admission are free, but organizers suggest rolling in when the grounds open at 3:30 p.m. if you want prime real estate on the lawn. Vendors and nonprofits still looking to snag a tent space can find fees, setup times and reservation details in the city’s PDF at the City of Forest Park tent reservation form.
Why it matters
Over the years, Jazz in the Park has grown into one of the area’s signature summer traditions and is regularly cited as one of Cincinnati’s largest and longest-running local jazz festivals by event listings such as The Voice of Black Cincinnati. This White Out twist gives longtime regulars and first-timers alike a festive way to celebrate the quarter-century milestone.
