Opening Night at the Litchfield Jazz Festival has a long- standing tradition: it has always begun with a party designed to entertain and, candidly, impress our guests. We presents our talented young Jazz Campers who show off what they’ve accomplished during the summer and helping us raise scholarship funds for students who will follow them who need financial help. {CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF JAZZ CAMPERS WHO HAVE BECOME PROFESSIONALS}.  Jazz Camp is and always has been a communal enterprise where students, teachers, donors and sponsors come together to make the entire enterprise work for everyone.

We’ve always called it “The Gala” to encourage festive attire and festive spirit, and it’s always a great party.  In addition to really good music by our most talented students, guests enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres, vintage wines and top-shelf spirits thanks to our sponsors.  These include Ciesco Catering whose chef-owner Charlene Dudka donates all labor, Vandoren, manufacturer of fine reeds and ligatures, whose French Vineyards provide us limited edition vintage wines, and Litchfield Distillery, who donate their award-winning spirits and cocktails to help us reach our fundraising goals.

The Gala is hosted in the Thomas S. Perakos Art & Community Center and exterior garden. As guests enter they are invited to visit the Art Gallery on the Main Level and enjoy the work of our two long-time artists in residence, Danielle Mailer and Steve Soklin. Each has contributed graphics for our festival souvenir t-shirts for many years and donated artworks for auction.

The Gallery will remain open Friday afternoon and evening and from 2 to 7:30 and on Saturday from 11 to 6:30.

The Gala runs from 5:45 – 7 PM on Friday and it is just a few steps away from the main-stage where concerts begin at 7:15, Concert doors open at 6:45.