The ColaJazz Foundation has announced its free outdoor festival will return May 15-16 to the newly renovated Finlay Park in downtown Columbia.
The ColaJazz Jazz and Roots Festival features two days of world-class jazz, food and beverage trucks, art vendors, community, and culture at the heart of the city.
The festival’s lineup brings together a mix of jazz talent and genre-blending performers. Friday night opens with Martin Bejerano, followed by SYR, delivering a blend of Celtic folk rock and roots music. Saturday’s performances showcase a range of voices and sounds, including the artistry of Brittany Turnipseed, trumpet-driven jazz from Willie Bradley, the grooves of Folderol, the vocals of Lucia, and a finale by Endea Owens from The Cookout.
“Our future vision is to be the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival of the Carolinas,” said Mark Rapp. “By transitioning to a ‘Jazz & Roots’ festival, we are laying the foundation for exponential growth. We now have the permission to book a wide variety of music genres, from blues and soul to folk, that are directly influenced by the world of jazz.”
2026 Festival Schedule
May 15
• 6:30 – 7:45 p.m.: Martin Bejerano
• 8 – 9:30 p.m.: SYR
May 16
• 1 – 2:15 p.m.: Brittany Turnipseed
• 2:45 – 4 p.m.: Willie Bradley
• 4:30 – 5:45 p.m.: Folderol
• 6:15 – 7:30 p.m.: Lucia
• 8 – 9:30 p.m.: Endea Owens (The Cookout)
Founded in 2014 by Mark Rapp, the ColaJazz Foundation is a Governor’s Award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to growing, supporting, and promoting jazz in the Midlands through education, advocacy, and events.
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, visit ColaJazz Festival
Photo from Colajazzfest.com
