Springing the Blues calls it quits after more than three decades

Springing the Blues, the free music festival held in Jacksonville Beach for more than 30 years, is pulling the plug. The board of directors of the festival, which saw stars such as Victor Wainwright, North Mississippi Allstars, Samantha Fish, Tab Benoit and Selwyn Birchwood perform in recent years,

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Springing the Blues, the free music festival held in Jacksonville Beach for more than 30 years, is pulling the plug.

The board of directors of the festival, which saw stars such as Victor Wainwright, North Mississippi Allstars, Samantha Fish, Tab Benoit and Selwyn Birchwood perform in recent years, voted to end the festival earlier this month. They did so not because the festival was failing — Toronzo Cannon, Desoto Tiger's Testimony and Nikki Hill played for big crowds in 2026 — but because they felt it had accomplished its mission of "keeping the blues alive."

"This decision was reached with heavy hearts but an immense sense of pride," said Sam Veal, who founded the festival in 1991. "We wanted to close this incredible chapter on a high note,

celebrating the massive cultural and economic footprint we have left on Jacksonville Beach. We are endlessly grateful to our fans, artists, volunteers, and the City of Jacksonville Beach for making this dream possible for over 30-plus years."

The festival supported the Blues in the Schools program, which brought blues music to thousands of children over the years. Organizers estimated that the festival had about a $50 million economic impact on the Beaches over the years by filling local hotel rooms and restaurants. The festival drew about 50,000 fans every year and was named by Downbeat magazine as one of the world's top 50 international jazz and blues festivals in 1996.

The festival itself was always free for fans, although they could buy VIP packages if they chose. It was founded in 1991 and drew thousands of fans to Seawalk Pavilion every year except 2020 and 2021, when it was canceled due to the Covid pandemic.

A digital retrospective that will look back at the performers and fans is in the works. The charitable Springing the Blues Foundation will continue to operate, as will Jax Beach Festivals Inc., the operational arm that organizes festivals at the pavilion.

It's been three years since blues fans gathered at the beach for the Springing the Blues festival. It runs Friday-Sunday at Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach.