The John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival fills Oak Hollow Festival Park every Labor Day weekend. 2027 dates and lineup not out yet.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts come from the organizer, the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival: its FAQ, tickets page and festival history. Questions: 336-819-5299 (336-819-JAZZ). This page is updated for each year’s festival at the same address.

High Point’s John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival is held every Labor Day weekend at Oak Hollow Festival Park. The 15th festival was Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6, 2026, with Ledisi, Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers, and Ravi Coltrane, the saxophonist’s son, among the headliners. The organizer has not announced dates, the lineup or tickets for 2027 yet. Labor Day 2027 falls on Monday, Sept. 6. This page will carry the details as soon as the festival posts them; joining the mailing list on the tickets page is the organizer’s way to hear first.

Know before you go

  • When: Labor Day weekend; in 2026, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6
  • Where: Oak Hollow Festival Park, 1841 Eastchester Drive, High Point
  • Tickets: one-day or two-day, from general admission to Super VIP, sold online
  • Parking: $25 a vehicle for general admission in 2026, card only
  • Kids: 6 and under free; pets: not allowed, except service animals
  • Organizer: Friends of John Coltrane, 336-819-5299, coltranejazzfest.com

Why High Point has a Coltrane festival

John Coltrane was born in Hamlet and found jazz in Philadelphia, but he first learned to play the saxophone while growing up in High Point, the festival’s history page says. An 8-foot bronze statue of him by sculptor Thomas Jay Warren was dedicated on Sept. 20, 2006, at Coltrane Plaza downtown. The group that raised money for the statue became the Friends of John Coltrane in 2009 and held the first festival two years later. The nonprofit says festival proceeds and donations pay for music education for area young people, including new instruments.

The 2026 lineup

From the tickets page:

  • Saturday, Sept. 5: Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers, the Lao Tizer Band, Elliott Yamin, Maiya Sykes, Chieli Minucci, Mike Phillips, Raul Midón, Joey De Leon, Anthony Crawford and Gene Coye.
  • Sunday, Sept. 6: Ledisi, Ravi Coltrane, Marcus Anderson, Adam Hawley, Cyrille Aimée, and Garry Percell and the NC Coltrane All-Star Band.

Tickets

The festival sells Saturday-only, Sunday-only and two-day tickets online through its tickets page, in five levels:

  • Super VIP: a reserved cushioned seat in the first eight rows, free parking, a VIP entrance, and a meal and two drinks each day.
  • VIP: a reserved seat in the VIP section near the stage, free parking, a VIP entrance, and a meal and a drink each day.
  • Premium Seated: a reserved chair in a small lakeside section.
  • Premium General Admission: a bring-your-own-chair area near the stage.
  • General Admission: the festival lawn, food and drink vendors and shopping; bring a chair or blanket.

Prices are posted on the ticket site when sales open.

Parking and getting in

From the FAQ:

  • Parking: VIP and Super VIP tickets include VIP parking. General admission parking is limited, on site and first come, first served: $25 a vehicle, paid by card on arrival. Buying it ahead online saves time at the gate, and two-day parking passes bought online are discounted. VIP parking upgrades are sold only in advance.
  • Accessibility: golf carts carry guests from the main parking area around the grounds. The seated sections have wheelchair areas, and an Accessibility Section in Premium General Admission sits on flat pavement near the transportation hub.
  • Security: metal detectors and bag checks at the gate. Re-entry is allowed with your wristband on.

What to bring, and what to leave

  • Allowed: lawn chairs, umbrellas (lower them during sets), strollers, wagons and diaper bags, all searched at the gate; phone photos and video for personal use.
  • Not allowed: outside food or drinks, including sealed water; coolers; tents or canopies; pets, except service animals; professional cameras; selfie sticks; drones; laser pointers; fireworks; weapons.
  • Diet needs: the festival will consider exceptions to the food rule for medical or dietary needs if its vendors cannot meet them; contact it in advance.

More around town: live music and nightlife, Labor Day in High Point, history and landmarks and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Coltrane Jazz Festival in High Point?

Every Labor Day weekend at Oak Hollow Festival Park. The 2026 festival was Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6; the organizer has not announced 2027 dates yet.

Where is the John Coltrane Jazz Festival held?

At Oak Hollow Festival Park, 1841 Eastchester Drive, High Point, on Oak Hollow Lake.

How much is parking at the Coltrane Jazz Festival?

General admission parking was $25 a vehicle in 2026, card only, first come, first served. It can be bought ahead online. VIP and Super VIP tickets include parking.

Can I bring a chair or a cooler to the Coltrane Jazz Festival?

Lawn chairs and umbrellas are allowed. Coolers, tents, outside food and drinks, pets and professional cameras are not.

Are kids allowed at the Coltrane Jazz Festival?

Yes. The festival is family-friendly, and children 6 and under get in free. Strollers and wagons are allowed but searched at the gate.