Sacramento Jazz Festival 2011

Opening Day Parade - Start time is 11:45 a.m, however happy jubilators will start lining Old Sacramento's streets at around 10 a.m. in the morning to get a good vantage point for watching the Parade. You'll see jazz bands, marching bands as well as Fire trucks, antique cars and limousines, clowns, dancing ladies and cakewalk strutters, military color guards and various dignitaries.

Memorial Washboard Concert - Held at the Firehouse Lot on Saturday at 1 PM. Come hear one of the zaniest events of Sacramento Jazz Fest: the Washboard Concert. Hosted by washboardist supreme Mike Johnson.

Divas Onstage - This year the event will be at the Sheraton Hotel Ballroom on Saturday. This gentler side of the Jubilee, features tunes by George Gershwin, Rogers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter and other inventers of the great American Songbook of the 1920s, '30s and '40s.

Amater Jam Sessions - Held at the Round Table Pizza Parlor in Old Sacramento at about 8:30 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Head over if you've got your axe and you want to brag that you performed at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee.

Friday Night Parties - A tradition at many jazz festivals, but Sacramento has at least a half-dozen of these, all built along various jazz themes. Jazz parties generally start at 7 PM and go to closing. Check the Friday Special Events listing for the brands and jazz styles you'd like to hear.

Blues Stage - Held at the Freeway Gardens, All Blues, all day Sunday. Bands performing here are: Catfish and the Crawdaddies, Jimmie Pailer and the Prophets, Jimmy Guitar Knox with Dave Croall and the Soothers, Linda Bracamonte Band, Sacramento Blues Review, Aaron King and the Imperials, Nitcery, Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers.

Family Stage - Admission is Free and there are lots of activities for kids. The event is located on J Street, not far from the Eagle Theater. There will be young talent from all over the place. Returning bands include J Street Jazz Cats, Mission Bay High School, Muskrat Ramblers, Raisin Babies, Santa Clara Swing, Sax by Popular Demand and the Syncopating Sea-Monkeys.

Late Night Rock-Jazz-Funk - Held at the Firehouse Lot at 10 PM on Saturday and Sunday Nights.

Jazz Apprentices - These kids are the cream of the young jazz world crop of musicians who have developed their craft enough to appear with the festival's premier adult bands.

Bloody Mary Contest - The contest will be held at 11 AM on Sunday at the Turntable Junction.

Pianorama - The Jubilee's top pianists will each offer a 20-minute set to dazzle the audience with their solo concert work. Hosted by Bay Area pianist Ed Wetterland, on Sunday morning through the afternoon at one of the hptal ballrooms.

Sunday Gospel Services - Services start at 10 am at the Firehouse Lot.

Come on Home - Jointly sponsored by the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Societ and the Ending Chronic Homelessness Initiative. Funds collected at the event will help to pay for "Homeless Connect," a one-day event that provides housing, legal, medical, dental, and counseling services for homeless people. The event will be at the Turntable Junction.

Swing Dance Contest - The contest will be held at the Hyatt Ballroom on Saturday with the prelims at 11:30 AM and the finals at 4 PM.

Memorial Day Ceremonies - This will be at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel at 10 AM on Monday. The program features the Sacramento Capitolaries, and 101st Army Dixieland Band. Expect a full program of service songs and military hymns.

Closing Ceremony - The closing ceremony will be at the Freeway Gradens. Several great bands will take the stage for one last time.