Elkhart kicks off 36th annual Jazz Festival

ELKHART, Ind. -- A weekend of rhythm kicked off in Elkhart Thursday at 7pm.

107 hours of live music will spread across 5 stages throughout the city, two of which are free.

“This is the best weekend of the summer,” said Jim Catalano, who helped bring the festival to Elkhart back in 1988.

Catalano will be performing this weekend along with other local and even world-renowned artists.

“The Count Basie Orchestra. Which if you know anything about Jazz, that is the greatest big band in the world, and they’re going to be performing in our town on Saturday,” Catalano said he’s most excited for.

They are expecting to attract a combined 10 to 15,000 people.

Mayor Rod Roberson said it is the perfect duet for the city.

“Conn Selmer is located right here in Elkhart, so we are a music community, and it just fits,” said Mayor Roberson.

The full line up, tickets, and more information can be found here.