The Rosslyn Jazz Fest is among the premier music events in the Washington, D.C. area. The annual event will take place in Arlington’s Gateway Park and is back this September for its 29th year. The following information may prove helpful if you are considering attending the event.
The Jazz Festival
On Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 1-7 p.m., the Rosslyn Jazz Fest will feature artists in the jazz, soul, funk, blues, and Caribbean genres who showcase popular sounds from the Gulf Coast region.
The headline act for this year’s festival is Houston-based band The Sufferers. The group has been lighting up across North America. Thus far, they’ve played over 300 shows as well as made some late-night appearances on The Late Show, The Daily Show, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. The eight-member group has performed at many other major festivals including the San Francisco Jazz Fest and the SXSW. If you haven’t caught them yet, this is your best opportunity.
Other artists and bands that will perform at this year’s festival are Cha Cha, singer/cellist Leyla McCalla, and the DC go-go/jazz fusion group JoGo Project.
The Jazz Fest is the biggest outdoor event showcasing music in the Arlington area and the signature event for the Rosslyn neighborhood.
Travel and Accommodations
Arlington, Virginia is a well-connected travel hub. The national airport named in honor of former president Ronald Reagan is right in the city. The area services Baltimore Washington Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport. There are Amtrak stations in the nearby cities of Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Several coach bus services drop off at the Rosslyn Metro Station located two blocks from Gateway Park.
The area is home to a selection of quality hotels. One of the best choices for an Arlington Courthouse hotel is Hyatt Place Arlington/Courthouse Plaza. The 168-room hotel offers guests a 24/7 dining experience, a fitness center, free Wi-Fi, and other amenities to guarantee a great stay.
The Hilton Arlington is another elegant hotel. With a convenient location for visiting local attractions, fully-equipped fitness center, and spacious rooms, it makes a great home base from which to explore the area.
Things To Do In The Area
You should plan your stay so that you can enjoy more than just the Jazz Fest. There so many things you can do to enjoy yourself in the area.
Arlington National Cemetery – The largest cemetery for military personnel. As many as 30 soldiers are laid to rest each week with over 400,000 deceased soldiers and family members buried in total. They are veterans from World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and many other wars and conflicts.
Admission is free for all individuals who wish to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers.
Marine Corps War Memorial – A photograph by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press inspired the world-famous statue that is the highlight of the United States Marine Corps War Memorial. The photo showed six Marines raising a U.S. flag at the Japanese Island of Iwo Jima in 1945. Felix W. de Weldon is the sculptor responsible for the bronze statue that honors the moment.
CEB Tower Observation Deck – Provides visitors with a view of D.C., unlike any other spot in the city. It is 400 feet in the sky and once atop of it, you will gain a 360-degree view of all landmarks and monuments in the Washington, D.C. area.
