About Us
History
In 1996, under the direction of former East Lansing Arts Commission Co-Chair and jazz guru Al Cafagna, the East Lansing Arts Commission presented the City of East Lansing’s first Summer Solstice Jazz Festival.
The first Summer Solstice Jazz Festival was scheduled to be held at “the rock” on Michigan State University’s campus, however; because of unsavory weather the event was moved under the Erickson Kiva roof. Influenced by summer solstice celebrations in Europe, the festival went all night, beginning at 9 p.m. and lasting until dawn of the next morning.
The event continued to be held at the Erickson Kiva until its move to Ann Street Plaza years later. Ann Street Plaza, located in the heart of downtown East Lansing, became the festival’s new location in an effort to attract more people into the business district. The event grew in size and popularity at this location. Attendance of the event skyrocketed, growing from 800 to 6,000 over the years.
Each year the Jazz Festival Planning Committee, a sub-committee of the Arts Commission, books talented jazz performers representing a variety of genres. In 2004, the event was moved to a big tent in the Lot 1 parking lot to accomodate a growing crowd.
Today
The Summer Solstice Jazz Festival is a two-day festival attended by more than 6,000 people. The event, staged under a big tent in downtown East Lansing, takes place in Lot 1 on the corner of Abbot Road and Albert Avenue each year.
In 2007 the City of East Lansing formalized an exciting partnership with the Wharton Center for Performing Arts and the MSU College of Music to market and plan the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival. The three organizations co-produce the festival.
The festival has begun to bring in national acts, beginning with this year’s headlining performer, Sophie Milman. The ultimate goal of the festival is to grow each year to one day become a major Michigan festival with statewide and national exposure.