Community Corner

Berklee BeanTown Jazz Fest is Saturday

A full schedule plus traffic and parking info for Saturday's festival.

For the 11th straight year, Berklee College of Music is bringing Jazz to the South End in the form of the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, a massive outdoor event with free shows and activities for all ages.  

This Saturday, head over to Columbus Avenue between Mass Ave. and Burke Street between noon and 6 p.m. and find three stages with live performances by over 15 artists. While you check out the music, taste food from dozens of vendors serving cuisine from across the globe.

Here are more fun facts (including not-as-fun street closure information):

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  • Carter Playground is home to the Natixis Global Asset Family Park. Kids of all ages can enjoy face painting, inflatables (like a bounce house) and an "instrument petting zoo" staffed by Berklee professionals.
  • KidsJam at the family park includes scheduled educational activities for children and babies (and the young at heart).
  • This year's festival celebrates Global Music and Nature, featuring musical styles and artists from around the globe.
  • They're also printing less paper than ever before, and waste stations will include trash, recycling, and compost. A BeanTown staffer at each station will educate patrons as to which bin they should choose. 
  • The all-day festival is flanked by twoticketed opening and closing performances at the Berklee Performance Center, featuring the group James Farm with Joshua Redman and Aaron Parks on Sept. 23 and the New Gary Burton Quartet on Sept. 25.
  • Click here for a full schedule of events.

Street Closures:

The following streets will be closed to parking and traffic on Saturday, September 24 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Back Baywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Columbus Avenue (between Burke Street and Mass Ave.)

Northampton Street

Davenport Street

Camden Street

Benton Street

Burke Street

The following streets will be closed to parking and traffic from Friday, September 23 at 9 a.m. to Saturday, September 24 at 9 p.m.

Douglass Park (between Columbus Ave and Tremont St.)

Berklee College of Music will reimburse residents up to $10 (with proof of residency and receipt) for parking during restricted parking hours for the festival. Call (866) 410-JAZZ (5299) for reimbursement.


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