October 17-19: South Carolina Jazz Festival in Cheraw

Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie proudly shared his Cheraw roots when performing across the world, and now Dizzy’s South Carolina hometown is preparing to honor their most famous native son with the South Carolina Jazz Festival October 17-19.

Complete with plenty of jazz, the three-day celebration is the perfect opportunity to relax with family and friends.  Over 25 jazz performances are scheduled throughout the weekend at Centennial Park, the Theatre on the Green, and local restaurants and businesses. Most of the weekend events are free with Main Event concert tickets ranging from $30 per person for a single evening to $50 per person for Friday and Saturday evenings.  Friday evening’s concert will feature the Delfeayo Marsalis Quintet, and James Torme will be in the spotlight Saturday evening.  Tickets are available online at scjazzfestival.com and at the Cheraw Community Center, 200 Powe Street. Any remaining concert tickets will be available October 17-18 at the Market Hall. 

The festival begins Friday and continues through Sunday with area school jazz performances, early and late jazz restaurant venues, the Cheraw Rescue Squad Jazzy Breakfast, a scholarship golf tournament at Cheraw State Park, a “Dizzy” exhibit at the Heritage Center, a bebop parade and Dizzy birthday celebration, all-you-can-eat BBQ at First United Methodist Church, children’s art activities, a pastel chalk art competition, artisan exhibition and sale at Kevin Lear on Main, a portrayal of Dizzy Gillespie at Morris Funeral Cottage, Centennial Park entertainment, a book sale in the Market Hall Courtyard, and more. The weekend concludes Sunday with a jazz brunch and worship service at G.W. Long Presbyterian and a community jazz mass at First United Methodist.

Jazz festival brochures are available at Cheraw Town Hall, the Cheraw Community Center, and at a number of local businesses.  To see a full event schedule, purchase tickets online, and register for the Dizzy Gillespie Scholarship Golf Tournament, visit scjazzfestival.com.  For additional details, call the Cheraw Arts Commission at 843.537.8421 x12.  The South Carolina Jazz Festival is supported by the SC Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.