West Orange Jazz Festival Will Return For 2025: Event Info

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A popular jazz fest will return to West Orange for 2025.

The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center (OSPAC) annual West Orange Jazz Festival – produced by Pleasant Valley Productions – will celebrate its 18th season on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 1 to 8 p.m. A rain date is set for Sept. 27.

This year’s festival will be hosted by Monifa Brown, radio host of WBGO's “Saturday Evening Jazz” and “Hard Bop Café” programs. It will be held outdoors at the Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center, 4 Boland Drive. Learn more or purchase tickets here.

Festival highlights will include seven hours of jazz performances, food vendors, artisan booths and a beer/wine garden for adults over 21.

Here’s what to expect this year, organizers said:

“Since its inception, the festival has presented a dazzling cross-section of local and world-renowned jazz and blues artists. This year’s lineup aims to attract jazz enthusiasts and all-around music lovers with its star-studded line up showcasing critically heralded musicians, as well as rising stars on the international jazz scene. The festival is proud to open this year in collaboration with WBGO for a free Kids Jazz concert featuring drummer Jerome Jennings. The thrilling non-stop, seven-hour line-up features percussionist Bobby Sanabria & Tres Magos, alto saxophonist Bruce Williams’ Quintet, pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton’s Trio, Matthew Whitaker’s Organ Trio, harpist Riza Printup’s Trio and The Rutgers University John Coltrane Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Anthony Branker.”

Lawn chairs and blankets are suggested. The “Kid’s Jazz Concert” which kicks off the festival at 1 p.m. is free, but a ticket purchase is required to attend the remainder of the festival.

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