Artists travel from all over the world to perform at Medicine Hat’s almost 30-year-old Jazz festival.
Exquisite symphonies are performed at The Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre, on-stage in the beautiful, acoustic theatre, on the rooftop terrace, and in the dimmed lobby. There are also outdoor performances hosted on the lush, front lawn, next door to Alberta’s oldest brick residence, Ewart-Duggan House.
An exclusive evening presents a Latin band inside the Medicine Hat Regional Airport Hangar. Dancing guests and the live band are backlit with a sunset and airplanes. A sight to see and experience first-hand.
“This festival is entirely about bringing joy and good experiences to people. The energy the festival creates is transformative. You see life in a different way — you appreciate your City, your neighbours, and friends. We’ve really coined the phrase ‘You don’t have to be a jazz fan to be a fan of JazzFest’.” - Lyle Rebbeck, executive artistic director, JazzFest.
The Medicine Hat JazzFest is a part of the Jazz Festivals Canada Network, which includes other cities like Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax. When it's time for performers to take the stage, Rebbeck and Olechowski work with a committee of up to 10 people and approximately 100 volunteers.
The Medicine Hat Jazz Society, then in its seventh year, hosted the first Medicine Hat JazzFest in 1997. 2024’s festival will swing to Medicine Hat from June 25-30, 2024.
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