Clifford Brown Jazz Festival

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MusicWilmington
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsThe festival exists to keep alive the memory
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Wilmington

The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is a free, multi-day outdoor concert series in Rodney Square, downtown Wilmington, honoring Wilmington-born jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown, who died in 1956 at twenty-five. Running since 1989, it has grown into the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast, featuring Grammy-winning headliners alongside Delaware-rooted musicians each summer.

Clifford Brown grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, and by his early twenties had established himself as one of the most gifted trumpet players in jazz, praised for a tone and technical control that influenced a generation of musicians who came after him.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The festival exists to keep alive the memory of a single musician: Clifford Brown, a Wilmington native whose brief career as a jazz trumpeter ended in a car accident in 1956 alongside pianist Richie Powell, honored still through pieces he wrote and tributes such as Benny Golson's I Remember Clifford, regularly performed at the festival named for him

02

The mystery stays covered

Despite being completely free, the lineup regularly includes major touring names, past and recent editions have featured Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie tributes, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Chick Corea, Kamasi Washington, and Marcus Miller, alongside Delaware-rooted acts such as Elevation, the state's only professional vocal jazz ensemble

03

The city starts moving

Genres extend beyond straight-ahead jazz into soul, funk, gospel, Afrobeat, and Caribbean rhythms

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's founding purpose

Water and renewal

Living ritual

honoring Clifford Brown

The sacred route

Living ritual

a Wilmington-born trumpeter who died young in 1956

The local code

Living ritual

is kept alive each year through the regular performance of his own compositions and tribute pieces written for him

Tradition 5

Living ritual

most notably Benny Golson's I Remember Clifford

Tradition 6

Living ritual

anchoring an otherwise wide-ranging lineup to a single specific local musical legacy

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

For Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, choose the arrival point in Wilmington first, then work backward to transport and return timing.

What to wear

Casual outdoor summer clothing suited to warm Wilmington evenings; a lawn chair or blanket to sit on the open square, and layers for cooling evening temperatures during a multi-day August...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Wilmington.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map34.24 N, 77.95 WOpen in Google Maps

Wilmington, DE

Nearest airportMYR — Myrtle Beach
TransportFor Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, choose the arrival point in Wilmington first, then work backward to transport and return timing.
Stay areaFor peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Wilmington.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Wilmington via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Wilmington, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearCasual outdoor summer clothing suited to warm Wilmington evenings; a lawn chair or blanket to sit on the open square, and layers for cooling evening temperatures during a multi-day August run.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Clifford Brown Jazz Festival?

Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is listed for June · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Clifford Brown Jazz Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Wilmington, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Wilmington, DE

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLcliffordbrownjazzfest.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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