The Springfield Museums is proud to partner with Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, presented by Blues to Green, to curate exciting pre-event activities featuring free admission to the Wood Museum of Springfield History, engaging workshops, and a high-energy parade led by the effervescent Grand Marshall Henri Smith. The pre-event activities will take place at the Wood Museum from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Saturday, August 14th, and the Festival will take place in the streets of Stearns Square with music from 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm.
The Museums are offering free admission to the Wood Museum of Springfield History Saturday, August 14, from 10 am to 5 pm in honor of the late Charles Neville and the newly opened exhibit Horn Man: The Life and Musical Legacy of Charles Neville. Charles was responsible for a great deal of positive change and awareness through music with his volunteer work for the Community Music of Springfield and the founding—together with his wife Kristin Neville—of Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, which is now in its 8th season.
On the lawn and patio of the Wood History Museum, enjoy art activities with a Museums educator from 10:30 am until the start of the parade. At 11:30 am, join Berkshire Bateria for an all-ages percussion workshop and prelude to the parade. Don’t worry; we’ve got all of your drum needs covered! This rhythmic workshop will introduce participants to the New Orleans Second Line Tradition as things are handed off to parade leader and New Orleans native Henri Smith. Simultaneously, the museum is offering a fun art activity.
The historic Second Line Parade will leave the Springfield Museums at 12:30 pm sharp and dance its way through the streets until hitting Stearns Square and the stage of the kick-off performance by Henri Smith & New Orleans Friends and Flavours.
All are welcome to join the parade and a passionate crowd consisting of The Berkshire Bateria & Bossa Triba Drum, Expandable Brass Band, students and faculty of the Community Music School of Springfield, and the general public. Through the Samba beat of Berkshire Bateria, we create our own unique hybrid approach to the second line tradition.
All of the 2021 Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival activities and concerts are free. This year there are capacity limits as we continue to keep everyone’s health and comforts in mind. RSVPing is a quick and easy way to reserve your spot. Simply head to thirdrow.live/sjr.
When parking for this event, we ask all attendees to use the TD flat lot or the Civic Center parking garage. Plan extra time to find parking as these lots may fill up.