DC JazzFest Brings Family Fun and the Future of Jazz to The Wharf
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
Free Kids Concerts, Festival Scavenger Hunt, and Two Education Stages Spotlight Young Musicians During Labor Day Weekend
WASHINGTON, DC — DC Jazz Festival will bring a full slate of family-friendly programming to DC JazzFest at The Wharf along the Southwest Waterfront on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, including free interactive DC JazzBops! Kids Concerts, a festival-wide scavenger hunt for young attendees, and performances by student and emerging musicians on two Education Stages.
Family Fun begins at 11:00 AM both Saturday and Sunday with DC JazzBops! at the M Street Landing Stage and continues throughout the day across The Wharf. Families can experience live jazz, discover young artists, explore the waterfront and take part in activities designed to introduce the next generation to jazz.
Jazz is music to be discovered and shared across generations,” said Sunny Sumter, President and CEO of DC Jazz Festival. “We want families to come to The Wharf and experience great music together. At the Wharf, young people have opportunities to see themselves in jazz—both in the audience and on our stages.”
Free DC JazzBops! Kids Concerts
DC Jazz Festival teaching artist Heidi Martin will lead DC JazzBops! free, interactive concerts for children of all ages at 11:00 AM Saturday and Sunday on the M Street Landing Stage.
The concerts invite children to engage directly with jazz through music, movement and participation, creating an accessible introduction to the art form for young listeners and their families.
Admission to DC JazzBops! is free. Families may enter “0” when reserving tickets or make an optional donation to support DC Jazz Festival education programs. The DC JazzBops! ticket provides access to the Kids Concert only; additional tickets are required to access other DC JazzFest at The Wharf stages.
Explore the Festival with the DC JazzFest Scavenger Hunt
Young festivalgoers can experience DC JazzFest through a Scavenger Hunt on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Open to DC JazzFest ticket holders ages 15 and under, the hunt takes participants to different areas throughout the Wharf to complete a series of activities. Children can participate at their own pace and in any order, collecting a sticker for each completed activity from volunteers wearing gold star pins or participating sponsor representatives.
Young people who collect at least eight stickers can visit the DC JazzFest Merchandise Tent at District Pier to receive a free DC JazzFest legacy T-shirt. The Scavenger Hunt will remain active throughout the day, allowing families to participate between performances and other festival activities.
Education Stages Spotlight the Next Generation
Throughout the weekend, the M Street Landing and Boathouse Education Stages will showcase the depth of young musical talent from Washington, DC and the region.
The lineup spans middle and high school ensembles, college musicians and emerging artists, including the Jazz Academy of Music, Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, JazzDC Youth Ensemble, FAME, Capital City Voices, American University Jazz Orchestra, Stuart-Hobson Middle School and Little Beasts, along with a full roster of small ensembles featuring emerging artists on the Boathouse Stage.
Many of the ensembles are led or mentored by prominent Washington-area jazz educators and musicians, including Paul Carr, Michael Bowie, Elijah Balbed, Brad Linde and Dr. Reginald Bowens.
Saturday, September 5
M Street Landing Stage
11:00 AM — DC JazzBops!, led by Heidi Martin
1:30 PM — Jazz Academy of Music, directed by Paul Carr
3:00 PM — Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Combo, directed by Reginald Cyntje
4:00 PM — Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, directed by Michael Bowie
5:00 PM — JazzDC Youth Ensemble, directed by Elijah Balbed
Boathouse Stage
12:00 PM — Victor Collins Trio
12:45 PM — Goodner/McCormick Duo
1:30 PM — Max Frank Trio
2:15 PM — Jasper Batty Trio
3:00 PM — Gracie Jay Quartet
4:00 PM — Jackson Dunkin Quartet
5:00 PM — Alanah LeNay Quartet
6:00 PM — Baddie $quad United
Sunday, September 6
M Street Landing Stage
11:00 AM — DC JazzBops!, led by Heidi Martin
1:30 PM — FAME
3:00 PM — Capital City Voices, directed by Dr. Reginald Bowens
4:00 PM — American University Jazz Orchestra
5:00 PM — Stuart-Hobson Middle School, directed by B.J. Simmons
6:00 PM — Little Beasts, directed by Brad Linde
Boathouse Stage
11:30 AM — Josie Lucian Duo
12:15 PM — Josie Luke Duo
1:00 PM — Kyle Rice Quartet
1:45 PM — Emile Dez San & Ben Trackman Duo
2:30 PM — Colie Aziza Quartet
3:30 PM — Goodner Bleiweis Duo
4:15 PM — Nick Aparicio Trio
DC JazzFest at The Wharf takes place Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026, as part of the 22nd Annual DC JazzFest, held September 2–6 throughout Washington, DC.
For the complete DC JazzFest schedule, Family Fun Weekend information and tickets, visit dcjazzfest.org.
For press inquiries, contact Lydia Liebman, DCJF publicist, at lydia@lydialiebmanpromotions.com.
Learn more about the DC Jazz Festival and all of our programs by visiting www.dcjazzfest.org.
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About DC Jazz Festival: The DC Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that celebrates America’s original musical art form by presenting year-round programs and performances. Our mission is to present internationally renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz, unify diverse communities and enable connections between artists and audiences, advance jazz and music education, provide performance opportunities for DC-based musicians, and highlight DC as a major and vibrant center for jazz. With dozens of performances in venues across the city, the annual DC JazzFest is one of the world’s largest music festivals. This international event attracts jazz lovers from around the world to the nation’s capital. The 2026 DC JazzFest will take place citywide, September 2 - September 6. www.dcjazzfest.org
DCJF Media Contact:
Lydia Liebman, DCJF Publicist
DCJF Contacts:
Sunny Sumter, Executive Producer
Josh Brown, Marketing and Communications Associate
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