Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival Moves To Avalon Park West Oct. 15!

The 3rd Annual Wesley Chapel Fall Jazz Festival is coming back to our area, but not to its usual locale.

After two years at the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd., the 2016 Festival will be hosted on Saturday, October 15, noon-8 p.m., by the Avalon Park West (APW) community off S.R. 54.

Located at 32659 Coldwater Creek Lp. in Wesley Chapel, Avalon Park West has held a number of successful open-to-the-pubic events, including its Fourth of July celebration, which drew a big crowd estimated at more than 2,000 people.

The Wesley Chapel Fall Jazz Festival, which is free to attend, should be another large gathering at the new development.

“The last one, we had like 5,000 people, so we’re back by popular demand,’’ says Tim Hancock, the president of Jazz Tyme Productions, which is organizing the event.

A lacrosse tournament may have bumped the festival from the District Park, but it’s all good, Hancock says, noting that the jazz festival will be combined with APW’s own Fall Festival.

“They have been trying to get me to bring it over there (to Avalon Park West) for the longest,’’ he says.

Hancock also says that this year’s festival will have bounce houses, face painting, a pumpkin patch and dozens of food vendors. But, the main draw will be the music, which will be highlighted by nationally-known smooth jazz artist Nathan Mitchell — who released his debut album “For All Eternity” in 2013 — and Tampa-based saxophonist Marlon Boone, who also plays with his R&B band City Groove.

“It’s going to be awesome,’’ Hancock says. “It will be live and smooth. This ain’t no backyard BBQ.”

Hancock is estimating a crowd of 3,000-4,000 this time around. Both the Neighborhood News & WCNT-tv will be on-site, too!

For more information, visit AvalonParkWest.com or JazzTymeProductions.com, or call 609-2531.