The South Carolina Jazz Festival celebrates an art form pioneered by Cheraw native Dizzy Gillespie. The two-day jazz festival will give attendees a lasting impression of one of America's most unique musical performers, the bond he shared with a charming southern town, and of course, great jazz!

Make your plans now to join jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie’s historic hometown of Cheraw at the South Carolina Jazz Festival October 16-18, 2009. Fusing the soulful sounds with the rich heritage of great jazz, this two day celebration promises to expose and entertain you to a genre of incredible music. Performances will include the legendary as well as “rising star” jazz artists. Check back often for the 2009 lineup and our updated schedule of events.

Planned activities include a downtown restaurant crawl with intimate performances by regional jazz artists, street musicians, a jazz breakfast, gospel concerts, a BBQ & jazz lunch, a jazz education clinic, and a self-guided walking tour featuring Dizzy Gillespie related sites. Cheraw's Burr Gallery will exhibit Dizzy Gillespie related artworks. The Gallery will also feature Gillespie memorabilia along with Dizzy's unique bent horn on loan from the Smithsonian Museum. The festival will culminate with jazz concerts at the Dizzy Gillespie Home Site Park, Cheraw's historic riverfront park and the Theatre on the Green, a site frequently mentioned in Gillespie's memoirs.

The main festival concerts will highlight top regional jazz performers along with artists whose careers were influenced by Dizzy. The festival's free Bebop Series will give jazz enthusiasts an opportunity to sample the best of Cheraw's local talent.

For more information on festival events and area lodging and restaurants contact the Cheraw Arts Commission at 843.537.8422 or the Greater Cheraw Chamber of Commerce at 843.537.7681. Please visit the web-site for updates on Artist and calendar of events.