Syracuse Jazz Fest FAQ

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No. Coolers will not be allowed on campus at Jazz Fest this June. Too many abuses in the past have made control of alcoholic beverages impossible, and things have gotten out of hand and become potentially unsafe. And unfortunately, too many folks have also violated the festival's no glass, no bottle rule. Since it's uncontrollable and because people have failed to observe the rule for the safety of children and others, we have no choice but to prohibit coolers, a policy that will be strictly enforced in 2010 and beyond.

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Only in the handicap-accessible seating area for those patrons accompanying festival goers who have special needs. We strongly advise everyone to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets for lawn seating.

A. It's open seating. First-come, first seated. And we advise people to bring their own lawn chair.

A. The festival has a free admission policy. No tickets. No charge.

A. Yes, the campus is fully handicap-accessible, as is the festival site on campus. There is a special seating area with prime visibility at stage left, house right that is clearly marked

A. Yes, all classes are open to all.

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That's a guarantee that's not possible at events like ours, or anywhere that has a weather-dependent outdoor music festival. While we do our best to stick to the original schedule, there are some variables that are simply out of our control. We're outdoors and sometimes there is inclement weather, and because it's a festival and it's happening live, things happen spontaneously and some sets run long because of encores demanded by audiences. But those variables aside, we generally run on time.

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If past festivals are any indication, it's a good idea to arrive a few hours early and well before the scheduled headliners to ensure good seating and to avoid traffic back ups. The acts and artists that precede the headliners are headliners in their own right and worth coming early for.

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1:00 pm each day. Master Classes with National Artists are scheduled at 1, 2 and 3 pm daily in the Whitney Applied Tech Center, and the food court also opens at 1. Music on the festival's stages begins at 4. Headliners go on at 9:30.

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Yes, there is CENTRO bus service and a regular service from downtown Syracuse. For a complete listing of service and running times, call CENTRO at 315-442-3400 or visit their web site at www.centro.org

A. Yes, Rural Metro Ambulance and EMS are on site for emergencies and routine first aid procedures. They will also have a misting tent if temperatures soar.

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Yes, thanks to the generosity of our good Friends at Price Chopper Supermarkets, there will be a free fireworks display - the first of the 4th of July season - on Saturday at 11:00 pm, immediately following the performance by Boz Scaggs This marks the 8th straight year Price Chopper Fireworks have graced the festival.

A. Yes, all of the rest rooms in the buildings are open, cleaned frequently and well stocked. The buildings are also air conditioned in the event outside temperatures become a bit unbearable.

A. Yes, there is an ATM located in the Gordon Student Center that's within walking distance and well stocked on Jazz fest weekend.

A. There is optional parking on campus that is limited to approximately 2,000 cars per day, so we advise car pooling. There is a $5 charge, per vehicle, per day, for this optional (limited) on campus parking. There is also a non re-entry policy. Once you're in, you're in.

A. Because there are only two entrances into and out of the campus, there can be delays. So we advise coming to the Fest early to accommodate those delays. It also helps if those parking on campus have the exact $5 amount ready in small denominations. Making change is what takes time and slows the line and causes the back up's. If folks come prepared, things will go much more quickly.

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For the first time during the 2010 Festival, Jazz Fest has teamed up with The Syracuse Peace Council to present the Plowshares Summer Crafts Fair! We expect the craft show to offer a wide range of handmade goods including pottery, jewelry, clothing, fabric dolls, quilted items and more.