Free outdoor event to feature food and drinks, family-friendly activities and four live acts, including headliner Albert Cummings
The Mauldin Cultural Center will host the Mauldin Blues & Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 29 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the outdoor amphitheater behind the cultural center at 101 E. Butler Rd. The free event will feature four live acts — the Iliana Rose Cuban Jazz Band, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues, Greenville Jazz Collective Big Band and headliner Albert Cummings — as well as a variety of food and drink offerings and family-friendly activities.
“The Mauldin Cultural Center is the heart and soul of Mauldin, and their annual blues and jazz festival is a wonderful event that brings our community together,” Mayor Terry Merritt said. “With live music, local food options and activities for all ages, this festival is an event for the whole family to enjoy.”
This is the cultural center’s third annual blues and jazz event. Previously known as Pizza, Blues & Jazz, the Mauldin Blues & Jazz Festival will feature food from a variety of local restaurants and food trucks, including One Love Fusion Foods, Project Host, Maverick Biscuit, Salads by Ms Deb, Travinia Italian Kitchen, Chocolate Artworks, Chick-Fil-A Mauldin, Kona Ice and Obey the Crave, as well as cold beer and wine from Growler Haus.
Activities will include a photo booth, lawn games, a Lego build station, face painting, and an art station with community painting, where local artist and art teacher Samantha Perez will create a large canvas mural to be displayed at the cultural center. The canvas will start out with blank faces and frames that children will be able to draw features on, with the goal of creating a mural that represents the diversity of the Mauldin community.
“We’re thrilled to kick off our outdoor event season and celebrate the arts with the Mauldin Blues & Jazz Festival,” Cultural Center Manager Christine Faust said. “We have some amazing performers and food vendors this year, and the interactive mural is an exciting new activity that we think will inspire children to be creative and leave their mark on the community.”
The lineup of performers is as follows:
- Iliana Rose Cuban Jazz Band | 2-3:15 p.m.
- Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues | 3:30-4:45 p.m.
- Greenville Jazz Collective Big Band | 5:15-7 p.m.
- Albert Cummings | 7:30-9 p.m.
“Mauldin has made significant investments in the arts over the past several years,” said Councilman Taft Matney, who chairs city council’s Economic Planning and Development Committee. “Promoting cultural tourism activities is not only a way to increase entertainment options for residents and visitors alike, it also provides additional opportunities to showcase our city in a way that neighboring municipalities are mirroring our approach.”
Parking and entry are free, and leashed dogs are allowed at the event, which will take place rain or shine.
The festival is sponsored by Avvio and The Prossimo at BridgeWay Station.
Performer bios and details about activities and food vendors can be found at https://mauldinculturalcenter.org/events/festival-season/mbj-festival/.
