The Ocean City Jazz Festival welcomes music lovers to another rhythmic and harmony-filled weekend by the sea.
This year’s festival will be held July 3-5 and marks the 16th year talented jazz musicians will take the stage in Ocean City, a storied community founded in 1949 on Topsail Island that was the only place African-Americans could buy coastal property in North Carolina before the Civil Rights Act.
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The annual event will kickoff on July 2 at Waterline Brewing Co. in Wilmington and feature a performance by Billboard artist D.S. Wilson. The kickoff party will be hosted from 6-8 p.m. Tickets for this event are sold separately.
This year’s festival artist is Rene Dickerson, a nationally acclaimed, self-taught artist who captures the richness of life through painting characters from all cultures and scenes.
Gates for the festival on the lot across from 2649 Island Drive in North Topsail Beach will open daily at 4 p.m. July 3-5 with musical performances beginning at 5:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. Shuttle service will begin at 3:45 p.m. each day at 2950 Island Drive.
There will be food and beverage vendors, and merchandise booths.
An optional, ticketed learn-and-hike event is being hosted from 8-10 a.m. July 4. Tickets are also available for purchase to a reception that day from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Hampton Inn in Sneads Ferry.
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July 5 will begin with the Ocean City jazz mass worship service starting at 11 a.m. A jazz prelude to that service, which will feature the Rev. Robert Jemonde Taylor, will kickoff at 10:30 a.m.
For a full lineup of performances visit the website. Digital tickets for the rain or shine event are available for purchase online.
