Lee Ritenour with Giorgi Mikadze, Melvin Davis and Wes Ritenour

Since 1988, jazz legends and fans have gathered each summer for a memorable weekend at the Elkhart Jazz Festival. Combining warm, intimate, small-town hospitality with the excitement of big city jazz, the Elkhart Jazz Festival has become an internationally acclaimed event.

Today, the festival showcases more than 100 performers and draws an audience of 20,000 to our community celebration of America’s classic art form – jazz.

Known as the Band Instrument Capital of the World, Elkhart companies employ nearly 2,000 skilled craftsmen in the production of instruments that turn music into art.

We are, perhaps, the only volunteer-delivered jazz festival in the nation. “The City with a Heart” thrives on its enthusiastic volunteers – more than 200 donate time throughout the weekend to bring the festival to life. They set up stages, take ticket orders, help people find their seats, announce the acts, transport musicians, move equipment … and so much more.

Elkhart Jazz Fest | Elkhart, IN