Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2010
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/882993767_xqQiZ-M.jpg)
Sights and scenes from Downtown's 2010 Jacksonville Jazz Festival. There is no doubt that this year's Jazz Festival an unqualified success, one of several for the City, and its vivacious Special Events Office. More than that, it was also solid proof that a properly planned urban festival creates the synergy and crowds that will help breathe life back into the urban core.
Check out these amazing photos, showing the densest crowds packed into downtown streets since Superbowl. MJ takes a look at how Theresa O'Donnel and her team moved the Festival from its traditional location at Metropolitan Park, and what it did to the actual streets and open spaces of the downtown core.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jun-jacksonville-jazz-festival-2010
Just Wonderful way to go Jax!!!! Love the pics.
Now if we could only find ways to maintain some kinda vibe downtown, maybe not on that scale, but just breathe some kinda life in those dead downtown streets. Jeez!
DVI - Do not settle, when is the next event downtown to take advantage of the pocket parks and open spaces?
It would be nice to see most of the festivals held in Metro Park relocated to the actual downtown core, imo.
very nice pictures. They show all too well what we know the core could be like.
Question now is what actually should be done with Metro Park? They have World of Nations there. I been to that once, was ok.
Yea yaa! Things look good! I dont think the Cocktail Party ever spills into Hemming Plaza...Whats to stop the city from setting up a jumbotron in Hemming Plaza so residence & visitors can enjoy the game there? Just an idea.
Dont they do that at the Landing,seems more suitable the Hemming.IMO
Quote from: mtraininjax on June 07, 2010, 08:29:23 AM
DVI - Do not settle, when is the next event downtown to take advantage of the pocket parks and open spaces?
Yea I agree! Be aggresive! Speaking of be aggressive this site is really under promoted...It should be 1.4 million active members on here. Who agrees?
Jazz Festival was well executed and kudos to the organizers. It shows what we can do when we put our talent to work.
Spring (mid-Feb to mid-May) and fall (mid-Oct to mid-Dec) themed festivals of music, entertainment (open up the theaters and museums), food, children's activities, and the arts with a bit of river and fireworks fun mixed in should work well. Tie in with seasonal Jags/college games and Jax Suns games. Close Bay Street, Water Street, Laura Street, Main Street, and the Main street bridge and mimic the Super Bowl festivities. Bus people in from the park'n'ride lots in the burbs like the Jags do on game day and promote the city garages and convention and stadium lots with shuttles. Let the bicycle taxis, horse & buggies, and open-air trams join the mix to move people over a larger festival area.
Need to make sure there are adequate traffic control and security, rest rooms, rain locations, and "cool down" spots so people don't have excuses to not come.
Those are our best times of the year weather-wise as well and the fall festival could be used to boost holiday shopping downtown.
STJR send that over to Special Events Office and DVI.
We are, Stephen! Thanks to all for your comments and suggestions and big thanks to Stephen and Daniel for the coverage and the photos. We really appreciate it!
Keep checking our site www.makeascenedowntown.com for more upcoming events like the 4th of July fireworks, senior events and more fun things happening downtown this fall.
Quote from: stephendare on June 07, 2010, 11:09:53 AM
And keep in mind, this is actually an event put on by the Special Events Office, rather than DVI.
That whole department is a high energy outfit that actually pays attention to outcomes rather than effort.
Theresa O Donnell is the person who could move the World of Nations and other festivals into the downtown core!
Its the Special Events Office that sponsors Make a Scene Downtown, people would be surprised how much those guys do.
This year though, I think the Jazz Festival was really a crowning moment for them.
Theresa does not get nearly enough credit for the work she does for this city!
The next event would be Pride 2010 I suppose?
COJ Office of Special Events includes a staff of 14 earning base wages of $685,875.96 before overtime including:
(as obtained from the Government Employees Database on Jacksonville.com)
Theresa Price
City of Jacksonville
Department: RCOD011SE Special Events
Title: AMIO - SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER
Salary: $113,336.66
Christina Langston
City of Jacksonville
Department: RCOD011SE Special Events
Title: AMIO-PREC PUBLIC RELATIONS
Salary: $69,999.96
Julie Lyons
City of Jacksonville
Department: RCOD011SE Special Events
Title: AMIO - FUND RAISING COORDINATOR
Salary: $50,000.04
I couldn't agree with this article more. I managed to get a few hours off on that Friday night, and it was a great time! The beer and wine wasn't way over charged eather! And the utilizing that pocket park between main and ocean streets. Although I like that park much better than a surface parking lot, I wasn't too thrilled with it in the beginning. I hope that they keeping using it like that. I believe those responsible for planning jazz fest should be awarded somehow. I think all those events should be moved to the core. And as for met park, I think it should be turned into an amusement park. C'mon, how cool would that be?! chime in if you agree.
Quote from: TheProfessor on June 07, 2010, 02:56:32 PM
The next event would be Pride 2010 I suppose?
not until we have an organization that can keep it together
Quote from: urbaknight on June 07, 2010, 03:39:44 PM
The beer and wine wasn't way over charged eather!
I agree! Myself and two female friends went out there Friday night and drank through three bottles of wine. At $12 bucks a bottle it was cheaper than going out to a bar. Although I don't know what the rules were, but it seemed to me that you could have just brought your own if you wanted to. All in all, an awesome event.
Way to go Jax! Great pics and great move relocating the festival to downtown/urban core from Metro Park. Metro Park has its purpose for musical festivals, musical events, concerts, etc., but the Jazz Festival should be a lot more than just music concerts and festivals; it should be a City-wide musical and City event extravaganza. And that's what happened this weekend.
"HU"
Quote from: thelakelander on June 07, 2010, 08:49:45 AM
It would be nice to see most of the festivals held in Metro Park relocated to the actual downtown core, imo.
Not all of them lake. They should try "World of Nations" in the core.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on June 07, 2010, 11:17:18 AM
Dont they do that at the Landing,seems more suitable the Hemming.IMO
Yea I know, but do business in Hemming do well for that event. Only thing fans would need is a "reason" lol....
Quote from: urbaknight on June 07, 2010, 03:39:44 PM
I couldn't agree with this article more. I managed to get a few hours off on that Friday night, and it was a great time! The beer and wine wasn't way over charged eather! And the utilizing that pocket park between main and ocean streets. Although I like that park much better than a surface parking lot, I wasn't too thrilled with it in the beginning. I hope that they keeping using it like that. I believe those responsible for planning jazz fest should be awarded somehow. I think all those events should be moved to the core. And as for met park, I think it should be turned into an amusement park. C'mon, how cool would that be?! chime in if you agree.
Discribe the amusement park idea.....
Quote from: Coolyfett on June 08, 2010, 10:07:19 AM
Quote from: urbaknight on June 07, 2010, 03:39:44 PM
I couldn't agree with this article more. I managed to get a few hours off on that Friday night, and it was a great time! The beer and wine wasn't way over charged eather! And the utilizing that pocket park between main and ocean streets. Although I like that park much better than a surface parking lot, I wasn't too thrilled with it in the beginning. I hope that they keeping using it like that. I believe those responsible for planning jazz fest should be awarded somehow. I think all those events should be moved to the core. And as for met park, I think it should be turned into an amusement park. C'mon, how cool would that be?! chime in if you agree.
Discribe the amusement park idea.....
Maybe an updated version of the old Dixieland Park that was on the southbank in 1910?
I think an amusement part would be perfect for that area. Alot of people drive by that park ,so there would be a lot of exposure. It could have a roller coaster, a ferris wheel, fun houses, merry go rounds.etc. I'm sure it can't be very large like six flags, but I believe an urban amusement park would be a great investment. And, there's plenty of parking too. Driving over it would be an awsome site. We have enough entertianment venuse around town, met park just takes away from downtown.
Thanks for the photos and story. I was out of town that weekend and wanted so badly to see the throngs of people on Downtown streets.
Courtesy: COJ Facebook page
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs531.snc3/30149_130897470256309_121053274574062_335347_1266513_n.jpg)