THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good. Community Champion of The Week: The Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz In just a few short months, Downtown Wilkes-Barre will come alive with jazz music. That's right: the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz returns to Downtown Wilkes-Barre June 6-8, with performances and entertainment at downtown music venues, restaurants and artistic spaces for three days. Following the overwhelming success of last year's event, the 2025 festival promises to deliver an unforgettable celebration of music, art, and community. The schedule of events and more information is as follows: Friday, June 6 The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with the Opening Ceremony at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. Following this, jazz enthusiasts can experience the vibrant Jazz Walk, featuring incredible artists performing throughout downtown Wilkes-Barre. Friday night wraps up with a special performance by the renowned Cindy Bradley at the River Street Jazz Cafe. Arturo Sandoval was last year's headliner under the direction of Marko Marcinko at the FM. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts Saturday, June 7 Start Saturday with the fan-favorite Jazz and Java event at 10a.m. at Abide Coffeehouse. The Circle Centre for the Arts will host an afternoon concert at 2:30p.m., accompanied by an extraordinary gallery exhibit. Heading into the evening, the festival's headliner, Endea Owens and The Cookout, will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. The night doesn't end there! The River Street Jazz Cafe will host the inaugural Late Night Jazz Jam, beginning at 9 p.m., for those looking to keep the groove going. Sunday, June 8 The festival concludes on Sunday with a delightful Jazz Brunch at Bank + Vine from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit wilkesbarrecavalcadeofjazz.org for additional entertainment information and tickets (two of the events require tickets). About the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz The Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz began in 1951 and is widely recognized as America's first jazz festival. A plaque on Wilkes-Barre's Public Square commemorates this historic moment, reading: "On February 23, 1951 history was made in Wilkes-Barre. Eight jazz bands got together for The Cavalcade of Dixieland Jazz, which became the country's first jazz festival. On this occasion, April 29, 1994, the City of Wilkes-Barre acknowledges and pays tribute to those early jazz musicians and promoters who initiated the tradition which continues today, not only here in its birthplace, but throughout the country." Signed, Lee A. Namey, Mayor of Wilkes-Barre The Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz is made possible thanks to the efforts of the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz Committee in partnership with Visit Luzerne County, The City of Wilkes- Barre, and Diamond City Partnership. WVIA and Chiaroscuro Records are proud media partners for this year's event. Many thanks to festival sponsor O'Donnell Law Offices, along with Anzalone & Doyle Trial Lawyers, Building Blocks Learning Center, Community Bank, N.A., Power Engineering Corporation, Service 1st Federal Credit Union, Snyder & Clemente Accountants + Consultants, Kronick Kalada Berdy & Co. and Corcoran Communications. The Luzeme Foundation administers the Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz fund. The Wilkes-Barre Cavalcade of Jazz Committee The Brendan Brisk Band at Franklin's during the Friday-night jazz walk is comprised of dedicated community leaders and jazz enthusiasts, including Bob Borwick, Maria Edmunds, Shelby Gushka, AJ Jump, John Maday, Gina Malsky, Marko, Marcinko, Mike McGinley, Neil Prisco, Michael Slusser, and Alan Stout. Please visit wilkesbarrecavalcadeofjazz.org and follow the Cavalcade on Facebook and Instagram. Working together makes our community stronger. If you have a cause near to your heart and want to make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond, please call us at the Luzeme Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information. Do you want to make our community better? So do we. Let's do it together. Because of you and for you, we are... Here for good. THE WILKES-BARRE CAVALCADE OF JAZZ HOME OF AMERICA'S FIRST JAZZ FESTIVAL: 1951 JUNE 6-8, 2025 ENDEA OWENS AND THE COOKOUT CINDY BRADLEY MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS: WILKESBARRECAVALCADEOFJAZZ.ORG THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST. WILKES-BARRE, PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065 THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE WEEK THE Luzerne FOUNDATION Here for good . Community Champion of The Week : The Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz In just a few short months , Downtown Wilkes - Barre will come alive with jazz music . That's right : the Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz returns to Downtown Wilkes - Barre June 6-8 , with performances and entertainment at downtown music venues , restaurants and artistic spaces for three days . Following the overwhelming success of last year's event , the 2025 festival promises to deliver an unforgettable celebration of music , art , and community . The schedule of events and more information is as follows : Friday , June 6 The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. with the Opening Ceremony at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts . Following this , jazz enthusiasts can experience the vibrant Jazz Walk , featuring incredible artists performing throughout downtown Wilkes - Barre . Friday night wraps up with a special performance by the renowned Cindy Bradley at the River Street Jazz Cafe . Arturo Sandoval was last year's headliner under the direction of Marko Marcinko at the FM . Kirby Center for the Performing Arts Saturday , June 7 Start Saturday with the fan - favorite Jazz and Java event at 10a.m. at Abide Coffeehouse . The Circle Centre for the Arts will host an afternoon concert at 2:30 p.m . , accompanied by an extraordinary gallery exhibit . Heading into the evening , the festival's headliner , Endea Owens and The Cookout , will take the stage at 6:30 p.m. at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts . The night doesn't end there ! The River Street Jazz Cafe will host the inaugural Late Night Jazz Jam , beginning at 9 p.m. , for those looking to keep the groove going . Sunday , June 8 The festival concludes on Sunday with a delightful Jazz Brunch at Bank + Vine from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visit wilkesbarrecavalcadeofjazz.org for additional entertainment information and tickets ( two of the events require tickets ) . About the Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz The Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz began in 1951 and is widely recognized as America's first jazz festival . A plaque on Wilkes - Barre's Public Square commemorates this historic moment , reading : " On February 23 , 1951 history was made in Wilkes - Barre . Eight jazz bands got together for The Cavalcade of Dixieland Jazz , which became the country's first jazz festival . On this occasion , April 29 , 1994 , the City of Wilkes - Barre acknowledges and pays tribute to those early jazz musicians and promoters who initiated the tradition which continues today , not only here in its birthplace , but throughout the country . " Signed , Lee A. Namey , Mayor of Wilkes - Barre The Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz is made possible thanks to the efforts of the Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz Committee in partnership with Visit Luzerne County , The City of Wilkes- Barre , and Diamond City Partnership . WVIA and Chiaroscuro Records are proud media partners for this year's event . Many thanks to festival sponsor O'Donnell Law Offices , along with Anzalone & Doyle Trial Lawyers , Building Blocks Learning Center , Community Bank , N.A. , Power Engineering Corporation , Service 1st Federal Credit Union , Snyder & Clemente Accountants + Consultants , Kronick Kalada Berdy & Co. and Corcoran Communications . The Luzeme Foundation administers the Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz fund . The Wilkes - Barre Cavalcade of Jazz Committee The Brendan Brisk Band at Franklin's during the Friday - night jazz walk is comprised of dedicated community leaders and jazz enthusiasts , including Bob Borwick , Maria Edmunds , Shelby Gushka , AJ Jump , John Maday , Gina Malsky , Marko , Marcinko , Mike McGinley , Neil Prisco , Michael Slusser , and Alan Stout . Please visit wilkesbarrecavalcadeofjazz.org and follow the Cavalcade on Facebook and Instagram . Working together makes our community stronger . If you have a cause near to your heart and want to make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond , please call us at the Luzeme Foundation or visit www.luzfdn.org for more information . Do you want to make our community better ? So do we . Let's do it together . Because of you and for you , we are ... Here for good . THE WILKES - BARRE CAVALCADE OF JAZZ HOME OF AMERICA'S FIRST JAZZ FESTIVAL : 1951 JUNE 6-8 , 2025 ENDEA OWENS AND THE COOKOUT CINDY BRADLEY MORE INFORMATION AND TICKETS : WILKESBARRECAVALCADEOFJAZZ.ORG THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION 34 SOUTH RIVER ST . WILKES - BARRE , PA 18702 WWW.LUZFDN.ORG 570.822.2065