At 60 years old, the Texas Jazz Festival claims to be the largest, longest-running free festival in the world. Set for Friday-Saturday, March 18-19, in Heritage Park in Corpus Christ, the festival features three stages of incredible live jazz music, a zany parade, and fabulous food and market vendors.
The free event welcomes all ages. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs; masks are recommended. 
A full schedule greets festival attendees. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with a parade. A dozen bands will entertain the crowd through midnight. Included in the lineup are Motif, Kyle Turner and Cruise Control, and the 323 Army Band, also known as the Biohazard Brass Band.
Saturday’s music begins at noon with two dozen bands playing until midnight. Some of the day’s groups include the Latin Jazz Project, Liscano, and the Ben Martinez Project on the Citgo north stage; Dreaming in Color, Straight Ahead, and Bill Ray Sheppard & The Main Event on the AT&T center stage; and Latin Talk, Europa, and the International West Side Horns on the H-E-B south stage. 
Food fare includes barbecue, turkey legs, funnel cakes, snow cones, and other creative choices. Drink tickets are $1 each at ticket stations located throughout the festival grounds. Outside coolers are prohibited. 
Market vendors from Texas and out of state will have a grand variety of items for sale, including jewelry, candles, artwork, Jazz Festival-themed clothing, and salsa.
​​The 60th Texas Jazz Festival was originally scheduled for mid-October 2021, but due to the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases last fall, it was postponed. 
“Our goal is to bring a free music festival to the Coastal Bend and always remembering keeping the public's safety in mind,” said Texas Jazz Festival Society President Nick Martinez in an announcement on Facebook on Sept. 9, 2021.
After the March celebration, the Texas Jazz Festival will again be hosted at the same location in October 2022. 
“In the 22 years that I’ve served, we’ve really seen it grow to almost 65 vendors,” said Kathy Reyes, vice president on the board of the Texas Jazz Festival. “In October, when we have the next event, it will be back to full scale.”  
Heritage Park is located at 1581 N. Chaparral St. Jazz Festival organizers have partnered with the Corpus Christi RTA for a free shuttle to and from the event. To utilize the shuttle, park at Corpus Christi City Hall or the Nueces County Courthouse. 
For more information about the Texas Jazz Festival, go to texasjazz-fest.org.