MACON, Ga. — This is the 20th annual Jazz and Arts on Riverdale event put on by the Jazz Association of Macon (JAM) and the Neighbors of Riverdale Drive.
Wycliffe Gordon and Friends were headliners for the event on Oct. 21 and 22. The Saturday concert also featured the Mose Davis Quartet and the JAM Ambassadors, and a special jazz and arts brunch on Sunday with music by the Ritmo Soul Bunch.
This year's event is the Sunday jazz brunch on Oct. 22 at the "chic cigar and cocktail lounge and rooftop patio" at Churchill's on Cherry.
According to JAM, this is considered the area's largest block party. Families could look at different vendors, set up their own picnic areas in people's front yards, and listen to local artists.
You may know Dr. Edward Clark from the Beverly Knight Olsen Children's Hospital, but he's also a member of JAM and goes to different schools to get kids interested in music. He says his favorite part is seeing all the people come together.
"Almost every year, I'm like oh my gosh do we really want to do this again? Everybody is so thankful, we usually have beautiful weather. Out of 20 years, we've only had only two years where we had a sprinkle and maybe a brief downpour, but otherwise, the weather is nice and everybody just enjoys coming together and listening to good music," Dr. Edward Clark.
Money raised at the festival will support the JAM scholarship programs and provide tuition assistance for Central Georgia music students from middle school to college. Scholarship applications are available at the association's website MaconJazz.org.