Fillmore Jazz Festival 2008

Blending art and soul in one of the country's most unique neighborhoods, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is the largest free Jazz festival on the West Coast, drawing over 90,000 visitors over the Independence Day weekend. From sunup to sundown, visitors can groove to the sounds of live music from multiple stages, browse the offerings of over 8 blocks of fine art and crafts and enjoy gourmet food and beverages. Asian to Cajun, paintings to pottery, old favorites and new directions, the Fillmore Jazz Festival is not to be missed.

This year's entertainment

Against the backdrop of World War II, dozens of Fillmore Street Jazz clubs hosted the era’s major musical talents, including Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Billie Holliday. Stars such as Joe Louis, Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood and Sammy Davis, Jr. sparkled in the audience. At the legendary Jimbo’s, Louis Armstrong went to check out Charlie Parker (the only known time they were under the same roof). Chet Baker snuck out of the Fort Mason barracks to jam all night, and John Handy played Bop City with John Coltrane.

Hands-down, my absolute favorite annual street fair ... and I've lived here almost 14 years now and seen them all.

There was no better way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon in San Francisco than at this festival, where you could munch down on roast corn, stuff your face with BBQ chicken, gorge on BBQ oysters, and feast on garlic fries with aioli and crab while listening to the sweet sounds of free, live jazz.

A flood of emotions gushed through me, translated into a steady rocking of my head, as genius, sensational, pure jazz jammed around me.

By far the best festival I've been to in years.... Great food, good music, and real positive vibes.... Catch me here next year and years to come....