By Danielle Kotansky, Aislyn McKernan, Alexandra Oliveira, and Eloise Mackell – Co-Editors-In-Chief For The Advocate and The Mane Street Mirror

For the first time, Milford is hosting Jazz’n Downtown, a Milford Arts Council-sponsored event featuring 15 jazz artists who will be performing throughout Milford’s downtown. 

Modeled after the Newport Jazz Festival, the all-day music bash will take place Saturday, October 3, and will start at 10 a.m. 

“We have a large goal of making this an annual event,” Milford City Lifestyle Magazine Publisher Mark Arnold said. “Milford has other great traditions and events like Oyster Fest – now the Fair on the Half Shell – and Pirate Day.” 

According to the Eventbrite site for the event, Jazz’n Downtown will be an “immersive live music and artisan experience where live jazz meets Milford’s coastal city vibes.”

Headlined by Wycliffe Gordon and Tina Fabrique, the festival will host 13 other artists to spread their love of jazz throughout Milford. Musicians of different backgrounds will come together and perform, including forms of Brazilian Jazz, CT Jazz, MAC Awardees, and 1920’s Hot Jazz. 

In addition to jazz music, the event offers unique opportunities to participate in activities that represent other arts and cultures. The activities include glass blowing demos, poetry reading, open mic, and a plein-air wet paint sale. 

General admission to the daytime portion of Jazz’n Downtown is free. All are welcome to enjoy live jazz performances from the three outdoor main stages at Lisman Landing Marina, Parsons Plaza Patio and Stonebridge Restaurant Patio. 

One goal of the event is to attract younger people in Milford and get them to take part in more events downtown and events held by the MAC, according to Harshitha Kothapalli, Chief of Staff at Milford City Lifestyle Magazine. 

The MAC’s main audience is people from 50 to 70 years old, and the organization wants to cater to younger people and get them to participate in the Milford arts community. Jazz’n Downtown is the newest of those opportunities.

“When Milford and the community believe in something, they turn up, and Jazz’n Downtown is worth turning up for,” Arnold said.

At the event, many different styles of dance will also be offered including salsa, Argentine tango, Nia, and swing and foxtrot which will be hosted by dance companies like the Carol Ferrell School of Dancing and Alisa’s House of Salsa. Dance lessons are offered for $30 per person per class. 

There will also be vendors located on the Milford Green.

The evening concert, the “Jazz Icons Tribute In Honor Of Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald,” is offered exclusively for those who purchased “Jazz Icons Tribute” and “All Inclusive VIP” tickets. 

VIP tickets were $400 per person but are currently on sale at $199. The tickets give participants access to each VIP stage all day. They get front-row seating as well as waterfront cafe seating at the Lismans Landing and Parsons Plaza Patio.

General admission evening concert tickets are also available starting at $49.