South Carolina Jazz Festival October 17-20

Jazz great Dizzy Gillespie proudly shared his Cheraw roots when performing across the world, and now Dizzy's South Carolina hometown is getting ready to honor their most famous native son with the South Carolina Jazz Festival October 17-20.

Complete with plenty of jazz, the four-day celebration is the perfect opportunity to relax with family and friends. Over 20 jazz performances are scheduled throughout the weekend at the Town Green, Centennial Park, Dizzy Gillespie Homesite Park, Theatre on the Green, and area restaurants. Many of the weekend events are free with Main Event concert tickets ranging from $25 per person for a single evening to $40 per person for Friday and Saturday evenings. Friday evening's concert will feature the Charlton Singleton Sextet, and Jaimee Paul will be in the spotlight Saturday evening. Tickets are available online and at the Cheraw Community Center, 200 Powe Street.

The festival begins Thursday evening with a free outdoor concert on the Town Green and continues Friday and Saturday with area school jazz performances, early and late jazz restaurant venues, a jazzy breakfast, a 5K run/walk, a scholarship golf tournament, a "Dizzy" exhibit at the Heritage Center, a bebop parade, all-you-can-eat BBQ, children's art activities, a pastel chalk art competition, a floral umbrella display, a Jazzmin high tea, and more. The weekend concludes Sunday with a picnic at the Gillespie homeplace and an outdoor jazz mass.

To see a full event schedule, purchase tickets online, and register for the Dizzy Gillespie Scholarship Golf Tournament, visit scjazzfestival.com. For additional details, call 843.537.8421 x12. The South Carolina Jazz Festival is supported by the SC Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.