Eau Claire Jazz Festival
- Dates
- Apr 16 to 17, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Pablo Center at the Confluence
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 10, 2026
Eau Claire Jazz Festival returns to Eau Claire, WI, Apr 16 to 17, 2027. Froligo tracks ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Eau Claire Jazz Festival marks its 60th annual edition on April 16 and 17, 2027, in downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Presented by Eau Claire Jazz, Inc. with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, it has run since 1967 and is described by its organizers as the largest student-run jazz festival in the United States, with UW-Eau Claire students performing the festival's duties. The weekend combines an evening Concert Series headlined by the university's GRAMMY-nominated Jazz I ensemble and guest artists, the Friday Jazz Crawl, master classes and student sessions.
How it works
The Concert Series has performances at 7pm on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17, with guest artists still to be announced. On the Friday the Jazz Crawl runs from 5:30pm to 2am across more than 20 downtown venues, with over 40 groups playing ragtime, blues, acoustic and big band. Concert Series and Jazz Crawl tickets are due to go on sale in November 2026, and a children's rate applies to the Crawl for ages 10 and under.
Who it suits
The festival suits jazz listeners who like a mix of formal concerts and a roaming, club-style night, as well as students and band directors, since the organizer also runs band registration, master classes and student sessions. The Jazz Crawl offers all-ages and 21 and over venues, and children aged 10 and under are free. The Crawl draws more than 3,000 people.
Protect your ears
Dutch-engineered protection for live music.
Alpine PartyPlug Pro earplugs reduce noise by 21 dB while keeping music clear and detailed. Premium, reusable protection for concerts and festivals.
★★★★★ 75,000+ five-star reviews across the Alpine range
100-day satisfaction guarantee.
Advertisement · Froligo may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Eau Claire Jazz Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
How do I get to Eau Claire Jazz Festival?
The festival lives in downtown Eau Claire, so for most visitors the trip ends in a parking ramp and the rest is on foot. The city runs two automated ramps there, which read your license plate on entry and take payment by app or at a kiosk, so there is no ticket to keep, and surface lots round out the choices. Last year the Jazz Crawl was centered on Barstow Street, which is where most of the walking between venues happens. The options below cover each way in.
Nearest airport EAU.
By car
The nearest major airport is EAU, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
Cost City ramps: Farwell and Gibson ramps $0.50/hr ($10 max per 24h). Street: downtown Eau Claire street parking became PAID in July 2026 to $1/hr on the Barstow corridor, $0.50/hr in surrounding areas, but still free before 1pm and all day Sundays/holidays. Free all-day option: Schlegelmilch-McDaniel Lot. Festival runs Friday-Saturday, so paid hours apply for afternoon and evening sets. Prepay via the Pablo Center's ticketing site. No festival-designated overflow or rideshare-only zone found, normal downtown curbside drop-off applies. Full city lot/ramp chart: https://www.eauclairewi.gov/government/our-divisions/engineering/parking/lots-ramps
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at EAU
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where do most people stay?
The concerts and the Jazz Crawl both sit downtown, and the Crawl runs until 2am, so a room within walking distance of downtown spares you the late drive after the last set. The local tourism board's festival page links to places to stay for the weekend. The options below cover where to stay.
Where can I stay near Eau Claire Jazz Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 2
2622 Craig Rd, Eau Claire, WI
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesEau Claire, WI (south side, off US-53)
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 2
516 Galloway St, Eau Claire, WI
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAltoona, WI (adjacent to Eau Claire's east side)
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTreat yourself 1
333 Gibson St, Eau Claire, WI
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirbnb & private camping
Eau Claire has a modest but real short-term-rental pool concentrated in the downtown/water-street and Third Ward neighborhoods (e.g. the 1888-built Galloway House duplex within walking distance of downtown), plus whole homes across the city at Midwest college-town prices. An April festival in a city this size can tighten the walkable-downtown inventory on the Friday-Saturday.
Search AirbnbHipcamp lists private-land camping and cabins in the Chippewa Valley around Eau Claire, but this festival is mid-April in Wisconsin, overnight lows routinely near or below freezing and many seasonal campgrounds/hosts have not opened for the year, so tent camping is a hardy-traveler option at best; heated cabins/glamping structures on Hipcamp are the realistic version. Hotels/Airbnb are the honest primary answer for this fest.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Pablo Center at the Confluence, 128…
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
What to bring
Two days of jazz in downtown Eau Claire in April, with a seated concert each night and, on Friday, a late walking crawl between indoor venues.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
Got fresher info? Tell us, a real person checks every tip, and we love fresh info.
Quick answers
When is Eau Claire Jazz Festival 2027?
Apr 16 to 17, 2027
Where is Eau Claire Jazz Festival held?
Pablo Center at the Confluence, 128 Graham Ave (downtown, multi-venue), Eau Claire, WI.