Officials with the Guelph Jazz Festival are hoping residents are ready to party like it's 2019.
The 2022 festival, happening Sept. 15 to 18, will be back with a pre-pandemic format, complete with indoor and outdoor concerts.
About 120 artists will perform as part of 35 musical acts over the four days, including a street music party in Market Square on Friday.
"That features all acoustic dance band ensembles in different styles playing, not from the stage but in and among the audience, in true street music style," said Scott Thomson, artistic and general director of the festival.
The night, which runs from 7 p.m. to midnight, will also feature an 18-piece brass band La Fanfare Pourpour from Quebec, along with the Anisnaabeg powwow band Chippewa Travellers.
Saturday's lineup in downtown Guelph begins at 2 p.m., capped off by Polaris Prize winning and Grammy-nominated composer Lido Pimienta, who hits the stage at 11 p.m.
Carden Street will be closed between Wyndham and Wilson for the length of the festival.
In addition to the outdoor music downtown, people can expect to see performances inside venues like the River Run Centre, Royal City Mission and Heritage Hall.
Several neighbourhoods will also be treated to live music over the weekend in a number of city parks, something the festival began last year as a safety measure amid the COVID pandemic.
"We partnered with neighbourhood groups in four sections of the city," Thomson said. "We only intended to do it last year, but it was so much fun that we decided to do it again this year in a modified format."
Norm Jary Park near Speedvale and Edinburgh roads, and Brant Park near Woodlawn and Victoria Road will have concerts on the Saturday.
York Road Park and Mollison Park in south Guelph will see performances on Sunday.
"We're excited," Thomson said. "We feel privileged to be able to present live music and we think it's something that people in Guelph, and also visitors, tourists from out of town are excited for, and will animate their lives in special ways."
The festival, he said, tends to draw between 10,000 and 12,000 people.
There are 11 concerts requiring a ticket, ranging from general admission to full festival passes at a discount. Those can be purchased through the River Run Centre box office.
You can find a link to the Guelph Jazz Festival's website here, complete with ticketing and schedule information.
