This popular four-day jazz festival is back, with more events than ever!  It will take place once again January 11-14, 2018, over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, with the Festival Headquarters tent in downtown Williamsburg. Additional venues include the Williamsburg Winery, Muscarelle Museum of Art, the Williamsburg Lodge, the Williamsburg Art Gallery, the Regency Room at the Williamsburg Inn and some of the area's best local restaurants.  The over-riding goal is to provide an enriching and entertaining weekend full of jazz and blues programs with options available to suit all tastes and budgets.  The Winter Blues Jazz Fest has something for everyone.

Kicking things off on Thursday, January 11, the Williamsburg Winery will set the scene for the festival opening celebration, featuring The Trutone Honeys and 504 Supreme.  

Friday brings us two great events.  Start by heading over to the Williamsburg Lodge for Mixology & Music. This event features an epic mixology cocktail sampling and live music by the Mint Julep Jazz Band from North Carolina.  (Please note: This event has traditionally been held on Saturday evening and has been split into two segments, the first being the tasting and then the live music.  This year the event will be slightly shorter and have live music and tasting throughout.) 

Not ready to say goodnight? Then head over to the Williamsburg Lodge for a late night Jazz lounge with local favorite Lance Pedigo's Timeline Jazz Quartet - featuring Lance Pedigo, Atiba Taylor and special guest, Liana Dagmar.

Saturday's event lineup is simply crazy. Start off at the DoG Street Pub's Barrel Bash, featuring live blues/rock music on two stages.  The Jacob Vanko Band at one end and Vexine at the other, add in a couple of special guests and a fine collection of brews, wines and ciders, and this will be one party you don't want to miss!

Alternatively, jazz lovers can hit the "Art of Jazz" event, at The Muscarelle Museum with Harris Simon and special guests. 

As night falls, local favorites Good Shot Judy will grace the stage of the Kimball Theater.  This show will mirror last year's harmonica challenge, but this year we'll feature a sax challenge.  We'll start the evening with Good Shot Judy favorites, then bring together some of our area's best sax players: including Art and Brandon from Good Shot Judy, joined by Atiba Taylor, Curtis Brown, and others to be announced.  We'll end with an exciting "jam session" adding in some of our favorite musicians on trumpet and trombone.

For those that don't want the party to end, just walk down the street to the Williamsburg Art Gallery for a swanky, late-night jazz club experience featuring Tony Mata and friends.

Sunday, cap off this stellar weekend with either a Jazz Brunch at the Fat Canary featuring Sharon Rae North or  Brunch in the Regency Room featuring Brasswind, a celebration of Jazz, funk and soul.  Then don't forget that you have one last chance to hang out with your friends and round out the weekend at our free afternoon Jazz club Downtown with Hamed and Friends.

Make the most of the weekend by staying at the Williamsburg Lodge.  They have offered festival attendees a great rate.  Simply call the lodge at 800-261-9530 or Marriot reservations at 866-913-6854 and mention the Winter Blues Jazz Fest.

Event Overview

The event will be a four-day jazz festival centered in the downtown Williamsburg area on January 11-14, 2018 over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend.  There will be a main tented area in the Downtown area and other venues will include the Williamsburg Winery, the Muscarelle Museum of Art, the Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg Art Gallery, the Regency Room at the Williamsburg Inn, and several local restaurant establishments. The aim of the event is to involve as many different local entities as possible; including returning corporate sponsor Chesapeake Bank, the City of Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance as our marketing partners, local businesses, local musicians, and the hospitality industry at large.   

Event Goals

• To provide enriching and entertaining jazz and blues programs with options available to suit all tastes and budgets;

• To illuminate the legacy of jazz greats, like Virginia native Ella Fitzgerald;

• To further enhance Williamsburg, VA as a vibrant cultural destination with year-round programming; and

• To boost economic development and tourism.