Festival Background and History

Our first festival on August 30-31, 1991 featured Electric Park, Hume Street, Dr. Jon’s Medical Show, Bathtub Gin Party, and Evergreen Classic Jazz and took place at the Westwater Inn and Olympia Elks Lodge.  A Sunday gospel service was held at the Olympia-Lacey Church of God with Electric Park Jazz band participating.  President Janet Haag presided.

The 1992 festival was held September 4-5 at the Westwater Inn and the Olympia Hotel ballroom.  Bands were Electric Park, Bathtub Gin, Hume Street, Uptown-Lowdown, and Tri-Cities.  Jim McQueen was Festival Director.

In 1993, September 3-4, the festival was held at the Quality Inn-Westwater with an increase in attendance.  Bands performing were Electric Park, Uptown-Lowdown, Black Swan, Tri-Cities, Foggy Bottom, and Bathtub Gin.  The Festival Director was Earlene Whitney.  This was our first year to sponsor a student to the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp.

Due to conflicting festivals, in 1994 the date was changed to July 1-2-3  and there was a  major growth in attendance.  Electric Park, Uptown-Lowdown, Jazzabouts, Stumptown, and Hume Street played in the Quality Inn-Westwater ballrooms.  Phyllis Daugherty was Festival Director.  The Society sent one student to the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Camp.

Charlotte Dickison was named Festival Director in 1995 and has continued since that date.  The festival at the Quality Inn-Westwater surpassed all festivals.  Five bands entertained…Electric Park, Monarchs, Goodtime Jazzabouts, Phoenix Jazzers, Black Swan, and musical appearances from our two Sacramento Jazz Camp students.

Over 600 attended the 1996 festival held July 5-6-7 in three venues at the Holiday Inn-Select with a pre-festival party on July 4.  The festival featured Jean Kittrell’s St. Louis Rivermen, the Madri Gras, Desperation, Electric Park, Hume Street, and Three Rivers Jazz.  Two students went to the Sacramento Jazz Camp.

At the suggestion of Diane Dickison-Cox, the July 4-6, 1997 festival at the Holiday Inn-Select was officially renamed as “AMERICA’S FESTIVAL” in honor of the 4^th of July holiday.  Besides the pre-festival party on July 3, a listening venue was added.  Bands were CanUS, Electric Park, Jean Kittrell, Queen City, Stumptown, and Uptown-Lowdown.  Four Sacramento Jazz Camp youth scholarships were awarded.  The Olympia Farmers Market with parasol parades and dancing by members, featured CanUS,

July 2-4, 1998 at the Holiday Inn-Select we featured Hume Street, Boilermakers, Uptown-Lowdown, Desperation, South Frisco, Rise & Shine Youth Band, and Electric Park.  One of two gospel services was held in the Capitol Rotunda with Uptown-Lowdown performing.  Desperation Jazz Band played at the Farmers Market. We sent four students to jazz camp.

We celebrated our Ninth Annual America’s Festival July 2-4, 1999 at the Westcoast Tyee Hotel in Tumwater with a sell-out audience.  The great bands were Black Swan, Buck Creek, CanUS, Electric Park, Jean Kittrell & the St. Louis Rivermen, Rise & Shine Youth Band, and Uptown-Lowdown.  Jean Kittrell performed at the Farmers Market, and Black Swan at the Capitol Rotunda.  Two students were sent to the Sacramento camp.

We returned to Cavanaugh’s Hotel June 30-July 1-2, 2000.  We added a tent venue to the listening venue and full ballroom.  Bands were Bob Schultz Frisco Jazz, Electric Park, Grand Dominion, High Sierra, Uptown-Lowdown, and Prohibition.  Four students were sent to camp.

June 29-July 1, 2001 festival was held at the Westcoast Hotel in Olympia (formerly Westwater, Quality Inn, Holiday Inn-Select, and Cavanaugh’s).  Bands included Buck Creek, Jean Kittrell, Black Swan, Uptown-Lowdown, Electric Park, Prohibition, Swing’n Door, and CanUS.  An After Glow party was held at Genoa’s Restaurant on Sunday night following the festival.  Three jazz students were sponsored to Camp Heebie Jeebies in Montana, and Sacramento.

With our continued growth, we moved our festival July 4-7, 2002 to St. Martin’s College in Lacey.  Festivities began on Thursday afternoon with a free concert in Lacey’s Huntamer Park.  The pre-festival party from 7-10:00 p.m. was packed in the Worthington Center.  There were three free Gospel Services on Sunday morning, and the Afterglow party continued to be held at Genoa’s on the Bay.  Bands were Buck Creek, Electric Park, Evergreen, Grand Dominion, High Sierra, Peter Meijers Quartet featuring Cheryl Stevens, Prohibition, and Uptown-Lowdown. We sent five students to Sacramento Jazz Camp and Camp Heebie Jeebies.

July 3-6, 2003:  St. Martin’s College offered us hookups for our 49 pre-registered RV’s.  There was a good turnout in Lacey’s Huntamer Park on Thursday, as well as the Farmers Market downtown at noon Friday.  We featured two Sunday Gospels, and an After Glow party at Tumwater Valley.   Special guest clarinetist Bob Draga from Florida, Black Swan, Bob Schultz Frisco, CanUS, Climax, High Sierra, Uptown-Lowdown, and Prohibition were the bands.  Three students were sent to Jazz Camp.

July 1-4, 2004 brought 53 RV’s to the College.  Climax from Toronto, Canada played at Huntamer Park on Thursday, and Grand Dominion and Climax both played Thursday night at the Worthington Center, as well as at the Olympia Farmer’s Market on Friday.  Devil Mountain played at the opening of the new Lacey Farmer’s Market on Saturday.  Jean Kittrell entertained at the After Glow party on Sunday night  at Tugboat Annie’s on the Bay.  Gospels were at the United Churches in Olympia and in the Pavilion.  Bands: Black Swan, Climax, Devil Mountain, Grand Dominion, Jean Kittrell, Louisiana Joymakers, Uptown-Lowdown, and Prohibition.  Three students went to Jazz Camp.

June 30-July 3, 2005.  Fifty-three RV’s.  CanUS & Grand Dominion played for the Kick-Off Thursday night, as well as at the Olympia Farmer’s Market on Friday.  Uptown-Lowdown played at the Lacey Farmer’s Market on Saturday.  Sunday morning CanUS played at the United Churches in Olympia, Uptown-Lowdown at Lacey Presbyterian, and Black Swan in the Pavilion.  The After Glow party at Tugboat Annies featured Buck Creek and the Louisiana Joymakers.  Bands:  Uptown-Lowdown, CanUS, Buck Creek, Grand Dominion, No Inhibitions High Sierra, Black Swan, and Louisiana Joymakers.  We sent three students to Jazz Camp.

June 29-July 2, 2006.  We had an overflowing amount of 73 RV’s.  The No Inhibitions band from Silverdale started off the jazz weekend in the Lacey Park on Wednesday.  Jean Kittrell and the St. Louis Rivermen played the first set Thursday night with Jean’s surprise 79^th birthday party with cake for all. The second set was High Sierra from Three Rivers, CA.  Uptown-Lowdown and High Sierra played at the Olympia Farmer’s Market on Friday.  The Louisiana Joymakers played at the Lacey Farmer’s Market on Saturday.  The Sunday Gospel with Jean Kittrell was at the United Churches of Olympia; Uptown/Lowdown at the Lacey Presbyterian; and, Grand Dominion at St. Martins Pavilion.  The After Glow was at Tugboat Annie’s featuring Jean Kittrell and the Titan Hot Seven.  Besides the bands already listed, the Mighty Aphrodite Jazz Band, young women from the West Coast of U.S. and Canada performed. Three students were sent to Jazz Camp.

June 28-July 1, 2007 – St. Martin’s University.   Thursday night Kick-Off featured Jean Kittrell (St. Louis, MO) Buck Creek (Springfield, VA)  and Grand Dominion .  Friday , Grand Dominion and Titan Hot Seven played at the Olympia Farmer’s Market.  No Inhibitions played Saturday at the Lacey Farmer’s Market.  Sunday Gospels featured Jean Kittrell at the United Churches of Olympia; Grand Dominion at Lacey Presbyterian; No Inhibitions at United Methodist, and Black Swan at the Pavilion.   Also, Ivory & Gold, Uptown-Lowdown West End of Chicago and Yerba Buena Stompers performed.  The After-Glow at Tug Boat Annies with Jean Kittrell and Titan Hot Seven playing. We sent four students to the former Camp Heebie Jeebies that transferred to Crescent Lake near Port Angeles.

June 26-29, 2008 our 18^th Annual America’s Festival of Dixieland Jazz was  at St. Martin’s University.  An additional tent venue was on the University campus.  Bands were Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz, Buck Creek, Grand Dominion, High Sierra, Jean Kittrell & St. Louis Rivermen, No Inhibition, Titan Hot Seven, West End of Chicago, and Uptown/Lowdown.  Local church gospels and the TugBoat Annie’s events happened. Four  students sent to jazz camp. We had another crowd-pleasing Festival.

June 25-28, 2009 our 19^th Annual America’s Festival of Dixieland Jazz continued at St. Martin’s University.  Scheduled:   Bob Schulz Frisco Jazz Band,  Wolverines, Grand Dominion, No Inhibition, Uptown/Lowdown, High Sierra, Titan Hot Seven, Ivory and Gold,  St. Louis Rivermen with Ray Templin, and John Skillman’s Coast to Coast.  Overflowing parking lot assured this Festival was another success.  Four students sent to Jazz Camp.

June 24-27, 2010 our landmark 20^th Annual America’s Classic Jazz Festival resumes at St. Martin’s University, Lacey, WA.  Scheduled are:  Grand Dominion, High Sierra, Ivory & Gold, No Inhibitions, Titan Hot Seven, Uptown Lowdown, St. Louis Rivermen, Wolverines, Tom Rigney & Flambeau, and the West End Jazz Band.

The Greater Olympia Dixieland Jazz Society will not discriminate against any employee or client on the grounds of
race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or the presence of a disability.