Just a few weeks from now on July 20th, the City of Saline will host its second annual, “Jazz in the Park” jazz festival at Mill Pond Park. The event is a free and family-friendly day of music, food, and community showcasing a lineup of award-winning artists. 

Organized by the city’s Arts and Culture Committee, the festival attracted about three hundred guests last year and this year, organizers are hoping to double that. Saline-area Realtor and committee volunteer Diana Morning said, “I’m excited about this year’s event due to the overwhelmingly positive response from last year’s attendees.  Our goal was to make it a little bigger and better.”

This year’s festival is headlined by award-winning jazz bassist Jonathon Muir-Cotton and his band Expressions. Other artists include the Grammy-nominated group Straight Ahead, jazz vocalist Olivia Van Goor, the Rick Roe Trio led by Saline’s own Rick Roe, and Cole Oswalt and Mystic Resonance.

“Four of our performers, Straight Ahead, Jonathon Muir-Cotton and Expressions, Rick Roe, and Olivia Van Goor are not only recording artists, but they have toured the world playing with some of the jazz world’s great legends.  Pianist Rick Roe is a Saline resident,” said Morning.

Thanks to the committee’s hard work and the generosity of sponsors, the event is open to everyone and there is no cost for admission. And because the musicians will perform under the pavilion near the big play area, parents can enjoy the tunes while the kids have fun nearby, making the festival a perfect way to spend a summer day with the whole family.

The event will also feature food trucks, balloon animals, and giveaways, including gift certificates to local favorites like Big George’s and Station 300. While there is some seating, organizers suggest bringing chairs or blankets to lounge on the grass.

The Arts and Culture Committee of Saline focuses on “the growth and expansion of culture and arts in the community, covering everything from visual arts and drama to music, dance, historical heritage, and the humanities.” It’s these volunteers’ commitment to enriching the community that makes events like Jazz in the Park possible.

Morning suggested the concert idea last year as a fresh way to “promote more public engagement and bring more people from surrounding areas into the city.”  Now two years in, Jazz in the Park isn’t just another music festival; it’s a celebration of everything that makes Saline a wonderful place to live. It’s about enjoying great music, spending quality time with family and friends, and coming together as a community. 

So pack up those picnic blankets, gather loved ones, and join in for an unforgettable day of jazz, joy, and community spirit in the heart of Saline.

To stay updated on all the latest news about the event, follow the Jazz in the Park event on Facebook at facebook.com/events/415545784664135.