Jazz’salive

The best jazz event in San Antonio!
It’s a free event, with a lineup of many incredibly talented musicians. They offer a schedule, and you can go around and get food and drinks. I recommend bringing your own picnic basket, blanket, and chairs. Travis Park is a wonderful venue. They do have a homeless problem there, but they like Jazz too.
I’m always impressed by the caliber of musicians that they’re able to get for this free event. It’s such a cool place to see these acts, out in front of the cannons and monument to the fallen Confederate soldiers.
Parking can be a challenge on this side of downtown. But the bus goes right down there, so it’s easy.

In the city there are two bookends that mark the seasons of the city, Fiesta Week and Jazz’SAlive. You will eventually go to both at some point in your life, that is a given. And while at Fiesta Week you will overindulge on food and drink at Jazz’SAlive your ears and senses will be treated to musical bliss.
Jazz’SAlive is a festival that takes place every year at Travis Park. It is free and open to the public. Some of jazz’s biggest names perform here for example: Chuck Mangione, Sergio Mendes, Hiroshima, Spyro Gyra, The Yellow Jackets, and one year the late great Tito Puente played here, to name a few. On two stages in the park music shifts from a smaller stage to a larger one by sundown.
The event itself is perfect to bring your kids and pets along. Patrons usually take folding chairs and blankets to mark their spot for the headlining acts. Vendors that sell food, drink and art are spread around the park. The festival specifies that outside food and drink are prohibited but you still see people bring gigantic Igloo coolers filled with snacks or Bud Lites. As long as you don’t cause a commotion the park police will leave you be.
It is certainly a great event, it brings some level of sophistication and musical integrity to our city. I must relay to you these suggestions:
1. The likelihood that you will pay for parking is great. Since the event is free just see it as a simple tradeoff.
2. Never go alone. Go with friends or a date.
3. The weather can change on the drop of a dime. Pack a bag with sunblock, umbrella and light sweater. It can be cool, sunny or pour rain endlessly.
4. If you are claustrophobic don’t go. By nightfall it gets packed and you are chair to chair next to your neighbor.
5. And lastly since it does get packed position yourself closer to the edges so you can move more freely to get food, drink or more importantly; to use the porta-​potties.
Jazz’SAlive is a great event, one that invites the whole city to its celebration of music. It is an occasion where generations of families go and in turn create new traditions and special memories. While Fiesta Week gives us an excuse to be wild, Jazz’SAlive gives us the license to chill and relax.

I experienced this downtown jazz fest for the first time this year, and can’t believe I had no idea what I was missing. Live crowd, live music, multiple dancing Elvises, festival food, booze, lawn chairs, and picnic blankets. It’s a great way to ring in the start of fall in South Texas!
If homeless people give you the heeby jeebys, just be aware that they like to hang around Travis Park, and particularly large free festivals like this. They’re harmless, but just keep your head on a swivel!
I was pleased to find out you can purchase wine and champs by the bottle, for around $ 20, which is a really good deal considering festival mark-​ups can be a kick in the ass at times. You can also get your grub on food-​booth style with items like papas locas, roasted corn, funnel cakes, sno cones, and puffy tacos.
If the people watching isn’t enough (which is hard to believe) there’s also local artists and craftsmen selling their wares.
Shop, sip, listen to some smooth tunes and support the local music scene!

So much fun! The Jazz, of course, is totally wonderful and entertaining. There is more than one stage so someone is always playing for your enjoyment. The activities are varied and affordable. We did the spin art but there was also face painting, sand art and additional arts and crafts. Plenty of give-​aways too.
The booths were really neat and included local artists, jewelry, fun kids items and of course food and drinks too.
Be sure to bring a blanket, water, sunglasses (!) and anything to keep you comfy while enjoying the music. Cash too! It just makes visiting the vendors easier.
The event is so family friendly, less perhaps for some smoking taking place.
Great location, hit up the River afterwards for a nice walk.
We totally enjoyed our Saturday visit and will plan on attending year after year!

I’ve been to Jazz SAlive a few times in my younger party days. It was always blast Jazz, beer, and friends on September night at Travis Park. What else could you ask for? Now, that I’m older, and a big time jazz fan. Jazz SAlive is more than just another festival to get drunk at; it’s a Jazz explosion. Two days, two stages of non-​stop Jazz on Saturday and Sunday from noon till 11pm.
This year I took my wife and kids; my youngest always complains whenever Jazz is invovled «I HATE Jazz» as he always says. But, surprisingly he and oldest really enjoyed themselves. The food booths at Jazz SAlive were good. Reminds me of the some of the good food booths you get at fiesta. My youngest son had his first footlong corndog; he really liked it. I ate one of the best funnel cakes I have ever had. It was so good I ate most of it by myself. This year’s Sunday evening lineup begin with David Benoit the Jazz Painist; he really jammed out. He entertained the kids with Peanuts theme song. San Antonio’s own Urban 15 also did their thing; they marched around the park with lights and all. Jazz’SAlive also has Children’s Symposium a hands on music workshop for the kids, so they have an appreciation for music. Jazz SAlive is fun for all ages, it’s a great festival with jazz, food and beer. I give Jazz’SAlive 5 stars Get Hooked On Jazz.