Jazz Festival 2020 – October 14-18, 2020

Hello Dear Friends,

So, it has finally happened. It is with heavy hearts we write to tell you that on Friday, July 17th, we were informed that our annual October Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival will not be possible this year. Of course, this is due to the Coronavirus.

We wish this was not the case, and we know you feel the same way. We will miss seeing you in Sun Valley this fall for the best week of the year! Our hope is that soon we will leave this all behind and once again enjoy some timeless moments with live music.

One of our jazz friends described her feelings like this, “The Sun Valley Jazz and Music Festival is one of my favorite events of the year. I love seeing everyone enjoying themselves - the happiness is tangible. I feel like I've won the lottery every time I'm there…musicians and dancers, watching them make their magic - how lucky can one be! I'm truly saddened that we won't all get to be together this year - and heartsore for the musicians. This pandemic has certainly left its mark on so many lives…looking forward to making special memories together again soon!”

The pandemic has indeed had a profound effect on our Sun Valley Jazz organization. Obviously, the festival continues to incur normal operating expenses even though the event has been postponed. This presents a challenging situation moving forward, causing us to reevaluate what the future looks like. Just know that we still want to continue doing what we all love. If you would like to help us “keep the lights on,” please CLICK HERE. All contributions are welcome, very much appreciated, and tax-deductible!

We look forward to seeing all of you October 13-17, 2021!

"Where words fail, music speaks." Hans Christian Anderson

We are looking forward to that!

Jeff & Carol

P. S. If you have already purchased tickets, please CLICK HERE.

Attendees from all fifty states, every Canadian province, and several foreign countries gather each October to celebrate live performances of America’s music. The Sun Valley Jazz & Music Festival was birthed out of a love and appreciation for jazz music by Tom & Barbara Hazzard and is held mid-October each year at the Sun Valley Inn in Sun Valley, Idaho.

This experience of telling the story of “American” music is our passion. Amazing isn’t it? We all get to be part of this history while it’s still in the making. The names that ring through eternity—Armstrong, Ellington, Fitzgerald, Beiderbecke, Goodman, Holliday, Basie, Shaw, Miller, and so many more—have created a legacy of delight that lives on through those of us who participate in this jazz festival. The history of this music echoes the history of twentieth century America.

This jazz event is held this year because of your continued support and encouragement. You tell people how much fun it is and that they need to come to Sun Valley. It continues because people have a heart to support the event and because we have incredible volunteers. It will continue as long as we all do our part to provide a place for these dedicated artists to express themselves and expose us to the art form called Jazz.