Monroeville Jazz Festival returns Sept. 4

Monroeville’s Jazz Festival is back to celebrate its 18th annual year of providing a day full of jazz, food and fun.

The Monroeville Foundation will be hosting the festival Sept. 4 at Monroeville Community Park West. Gates open at 1 p.m.

“The foundation is so pleased to have this year’s event, have the community back and the artists be able to perform,” said Debbie Iszauk, event manager at the foundation.

The festival was canceled last year for the first time in 17 years due to covid event restrictions placed by Gov. Tom Wolf.

Performers slated to perform last year will perform at this year’s festival — Afro-American Music Institute, Tubby Daniels with vocalist Anita Levels, John Shannon Trio with Thomas Wendt and Tony DePaolis, and the Pittsburgh All Stars Jazz Extravaganza.

Food trucks, craft beer and wine provided by Greenhouse Winery, and a vendor marketplace will also be on-site for attendees to enjoy food and drinks.

The Monroeville Public Library will have an interactive art project for attendees to create jazz-themed crafts that will be combined into a mural to be displayed temporarily in the Monroeville Municipal building.

“It is wonderful to be a part of the community event, and we are looking forward to interacting with all the attendees,” said Alice Rathjen, public relations contractor for the library.

Admission and parking are free. The foundation is encouraging $5 donations to help support the Monroeville Foundation charities including the Animal Shelter, local food banks and more. Nonperishable food or toiletries are also being accepted.

In preparation for a larger turnout, the foundation created a safety plan for the event, including hand sanitizing stations, signage encouraging social distancing and frequent cleaning of common areas. The festival will also follow current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations as well as Allegheny County covid guidelines to ensure the safety of attendees and performers.

“The good news is it is an outdoor event. Opportunity to social distance. We can create a really safe environment for people to enjoy the music,” said Ernie Groover, president of the Monroeville Foundation.

For more information about the event, visit monroevillefoundation.org/monroeville-jazz-festival.