Central Avenue Jazz Festival

The Central Avenue Jazz Festival, held for the first time in 1996, is designed to showcase the legacy of the historic Jazz corridor in Los Angeles. Central Avenue, which runs through the South Los Angeles community where the Festival takes place, was a mid-20th century hub for jazz and the once-segregated African American community. The Festival takes place next to iconic locations, including the now-famous Dunbar Hotel, where jazz greats performing in Los Angeles often stayed and performed after hours. Each year, the Festival honors the legacies of jazz giants through multiple stages featuring performances from both world-renowned artists and Los Angeles's own rising stars. The Festival also includes four pavilions of community organizations and businesses offering resources and information on issues surrounding Health & Wellness, Arts, Youth, and Business & Employment. This free annual event attracts tens of thousands of visitors and vendors each year to one of Los Angeles's most historic and culturally rich corridors.