The JazzFest 5K will be held Saturday, July 17th at 9:00 a.m.

“A 5K event has been on the JazzFest back burner for quite some time and we are very excited to make it a reality this year,” said Katrina Lehr-McKinney, Executive Coordinator for the organization.  “Funds raised from the event will support our educational outreach programs that serve thousands of children every year.”

“We are pleased that the Sioux Falls Area Running Club is a partner of this event, and will assist us with event coordination,” said Lehr-McKinney.

EVENT DETAILS:

·    Timing services will be provided by Sioux Falls Area Running Club. Each participant will be given a race number at packet pickup.
·    Registrants can pick up packets the day of the race starting at 7:30 a.m. at Yankton Trail Park.
·    Race begins at 9:00 a.m. at Yankton Trail Park. All entrants are guaranteed a t-shirt if registered by July 7th.
·    5K run:  $20 or $25 after July 7th
·    1 mi. fun walk: $20 or $25 after July 7th
·    Team run or walk:  $50 or $60 after July 7th (up to four team members)
·    Age categories for run:  m/w 19 and under;  m/w 20-30; m/w 31-40; m/w 41-50; m/w 51+
·    Awards and refreshments immediately following race.  Music starts at Noon on both JazzFest stages!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE!

For more information, contact Katrina Lehr-McKinney at 605-335-6101 or Katrina@sfjb.org.

WHAT:  JazzFest 5K run/ 1 mi. fun walk
WHEN:  Saturday, July 17th at 9:00 a.m.
WHERE:  Yankton Trail Park, Sioux Falls, SD
REGISTRATION INFO:  $20 per individual; $50 per team of 4.  (Late registration after July 7 is $25 per individual or $60 per team.)  CLICK HERE to register online or call 605-335-6101.

The contest will decide the look of the infamous volunteer shirts, worn by over 800 volunteers during the festival. The theme of the design is a quote by the famous jazz trumpeter and singer, Louis Armstrong:

“To Jazz, or not to Jazz. There is no question!”

Competing artists must integrate this idea into the three-color design of the shirt.

The winner of the contest will receive special VIP passes at JazzFest.

Artists are encouraged to work in a variety of mediums with the understanding that their work must be easily converted for screen printing.

JazzFest 2010 will be held July 15-17 at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, SD.

Deadline for submissions:  April 15, 2010.

Guideline for submissions*:

• Artwork of all mediums may be submitted with the understanding that it must be convertible to a three-color vector file.
• Artwork and its elements must be original by the submitter and must not have been previously used for other commercial work
• Submissions must include artists name, email, phone number and address.  You may also include a brief artist statement.
• All artwork MUST be sent in a basic 300 dpi JPG format on a CD and mailed to:  JazzFest Art Contest, 123 S. Main Avenue Suite 204, Sioux Falls, SD  57104 or emailed to Brienne@sfjb.org.
• Higher resolution art will be necessary at a later date ONLY if your artwork is selected.
• Winning artwork may be adjusted or altered for the final conversion printing.
• Please keep in mind that while we will not censor any submissions, artwork should be appropriate in nature for all audiences.
• A confirmation of receipt email will be sent within 48 hours.  If you do not receive a confirmation email within that time period, please re-send or call 605-335-6101.
• The winner will be announced by May 15, 2010.
• Winning artwork will become property of the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society.
• JazzFest is not obligated to use any of the submitted entries.
• If you have questions, please contact Brienne Zimmer at 605-335-6101 or Brienne@sfjb.org.

*FINE PRINT:  SFJB and JazzFest name and logos are copyright of Sioux Falls Jazz and Blue Society. All artwork using names, logos or representing the organization and festival must be authorized and sold by SFJB and/or Sioux Falls JazzFest.

Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues has created a home for local and regional musical acts on JazzFest’s second stage that includes a wide array of musical genres. Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Executive Director Robert Joyce says “each year the immense amount of talent on the second stage truly impresses us and the thousands of audience members there to take it all in.”

The deadline for submissions is February 15, 2010.

Interested musicians can send press kits that include audio samples to:

JazzFest 2010 2nd Stage Submissions
c/o Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues
123 S. Main Avenue Suite 204
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Or email electronic press kits to info@sfjb.org.

“By adding Thursday evening we will reach new audiences, increase the awareness of our mission, spread out our financial liability and get more musicians and artists involved in the festival. And do all three without adding a great deal of expense to the festival,” says Robert Joyce, Executive Director of the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society.

“We’ve been investigating how the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival can be more productive, artistically and also fiscally. Expanding the event in this way achieves that for us.” says Neal Eddy, Board Chair of the organization.

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival – JazzFest is a free music festival featuring two stages and over 18 hours of music.

The 2010 festival dates are July 15, 16 and 17.

More information on the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival – JazzFest can be found at www.jazzfestsiouxfalls.com.

Stay tuned for the exciting news!

Dozens of craft and imported beers will be available along with delicious appetizers by Chef Jeni & Company. Music will be provided by Dakota Jazz Collective.

Funds raised at Jazz & Brews directly support the Society’s educational outreach programs including the Jazz Diversity Project, the All City Jazz Ensemble, scholarships, master classes and workshops, and free tickets to concert series performances for at-risk and underserved youth and families.

Tickets are available online at www.sfjb.org.

The Society’s Executive Director, Robert Joyce, said the grant is a great honor and further validates the organization’s educational outreach efforts.

“We are very excited to receive this grant from the NEA,” Joyce said. “Funding from the NEA is quite competitive and to be recognized for our work shows that we are providing programming that is superior on a national level.”

Money received from this prestigious grant will be used to support the Jazz Diversity Project, an educational program that brings live jazz music into middle schools across South Dakota.

“Ultimately this money will help us provide this program across the state of South Dakota and more kids will be able to enjoy the music and message the Jazz Diversity Project brings to their school,” Joyce said.

Joyce added, “The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society has always strived for programming that is at the same level as arts organizations in larger markets. This helps to further validate our hard work and shows that we are succeeding.”

The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society strives to bring jazz and blues educational experiences to youth and adults in Sioux Falls and the state of South Dakota through various educational programs and workshops.

The upcoming fundraiser on Saturday September 26th, Jazz & Brews, directly supports the Society’s educational outreach programs, which includes: the Jazz Diversity Project, the All City Jazz Ensemble, scholarships, master classes and workshops, as well as free tickets to concert series performances for at-risk and underserved youth and families.

The Jazz Diversity Project

For more information please contact Robert Joyce, Executive Director, at 605-335-6101 or at info@sfjb.org.

Attendance figures are estimated this year at just over 75,000 people.

Robert Joyce, Executive Director of the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society, the organization which puts on the event said, “In general, our revenue for the festival was down from previous years, which is surprising considering the weather was so enjoyable and crowds were sustainable, especially on Saturday.”

Joyce adds “However, we are extremely grateful to those patrons who made donations at the front and back gate, as well as throughout the park to help us as we continue to maneuver through this economy.”

JazzFest is a free event which relies on donations and sales of beverages at the festival. JazzFest also relies on nearly sixty sponsors to help fund the event.

The festival is the major fundraiser of the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society which has an annual concert series, educational programs, scholarships and other events throughout the year.

The ride is $3 per person for a round trip with kids 5 and under riding for free.

Shuttles run continuously during these times:

Friday, July 17:  5pm to 12:30am

Saturday, July 18:  11am to 12:30am

The downtown trolley will also run from the Holiday Inn City Centre from 5pm to midnight both days free of charge.