Rizal Park Jazz Festival

Our Story

The festival began in 2009 as the Rizal Park Music and Arts Festival, bringing together music, arts, culture, and community at Seattle’s Dr. José Rizal Park. From the beginning, its purpose has been to create greater awareness of the park, its history, and its significance to the community.

In 2018, the event evolved into the Dr. José Rizal Jazz Festival, continuing the tradition of bringing families, musicians, community organizations, and supporters together through music and culture.

The festival also honors the legacy of the Filipino American community leaders and advocates whose vision and dedication helped establish Dr. José Rizal’s name as a lasting part of Seattle’s landscape. What began with efforts to have a Seattle street named in honor of Dr. José Rizal grew into a broader movement that ultimately helped establish the Dr. José Rizal Bridge and Dr. José Rizal Park. Their work created a lasting tribute to the Philippine national hero and an important symbol of Filipino American history and heritage in Seattle.

Today, the Rizal Park and Bridge Preservation Society carries that legacy forward through community events, cultural programming, historical preservation, and advocacy for improvements to the park.

The annual Dr. José Rizal Jazz Festival is part of that continuing effort—using music and community to create awareness of the park, honor those who came before us, celebrate our shared history and culture, and build support for the preservation and improvement of Dr. José Rizal Park and Bridge for future generations.

Become a Part of the Festival

Vendor https://forms.office.com/r/9gqDZsr7pv

Sponsorship form

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The Rizal Park Jazz Festival is more than a day of music—it's a celebration of Filipino heritage, community, and the legacy of the dedicated leaders who helped establish Dr. José Rizal Park and Bridge.

Founded by Tess Guerzon in 2009, the festival was created to honor her mother, Zenaida Guerzon, Vic Bacho, Trinidad Rojo, and the many Filipino American community leaders whose vision made this historic park and bridge possible. Today, that legacy continues through an annual celebration that brings together thousands of people to enjoy live music, cultural performances, authentic Filipino food, local artists, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses.

Whether you are a musician, performer, food vendor, artisan, community organization, business, volunteer, or event sponsor, we invite you to become part of this growing tradition.

Your participation helps us:

Celebrate Filipino culture and history.
Support local musicians, artists, and small businesses.
Preserve and promote Dr. José Rizal Park and Bridge.
Build a welcoming community event for people of all backgrounds.
Raise funds for park improvements and future cultural programming.

Together, we can continue the vision of the community leaders who believed this park should be a place where history, culture, education, and community come together.

Interested in participating? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us to learn about sponsorship opportunities, vendor booths, performances, volunteer opportunities, and community partnerships.

Welcome

Music in the Park

Our Story

Our Story

About Us

Rizal Park and Bridge Preservation Society (RPBPS)

Become a Part of the Festival

UPCOMING-ANNUAL RIZAL PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL