In 1970, the year of the festival's debut, about 350 people attended. This year, several entertainers from that debut are performing, including George Wain, Ellis Marsalis and Art Neville from The Neville Brothers.

 

The festival is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course and hosts about 400,000 people every year. If you are planning on making your own Jazz Fest debut, there is no time like the present.