"Jazz" Up Your Summer Vacation Plans

By: Valarie D'Elia

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If you want your summer to hit all the right notes, there's a trio of jazz festivals to consider within driving or train distance. NY1's Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.

The Montreal Jazz Festival is celebrating its 30th birthday this year with a special free outdoor concert by Stevie Wonder. The festival, which runs from July 1st to July 12th offers 11 days of jazz concerts and performances. Of the concerts, 450 are held outdoors and free, while 150 indoor concerts have ticket prices ranging from $18 to $130. Everything from youth hostels to five-star hotels are participating with lodging packages.

A week after the Montreal Jazz festival ends, the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz begins, in Connecticut's state capital. For the past 17 years, local, regional and internationally acclaimed jazz artists have graced the stage of Bushnell Park during the largest free jazz event in New England. The festival will celebrate its 18th anniversary this summer with three days of free jazz, July 17th through July 19th.

Further east from Hartford on the water is the 55th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival slated for the weekend of August 8th & 9th, which features two days of music at Ft. Adams State park. An opening night concert takes place at the International Tennis Hall of Fame General admission tickets are $69 for adults and $15 for kids each day.

Now here's a D'Elia's Deal you don't want to miss at the Hartford Marriott. Stay overnight the weekend of the Hartford Jazz Festival for $169 including breakfast. Use the code "Escape Local Package" when calling 866-373-9806 or "ZJL" when booking online at hartfordmarriott.com.

For this and other travel news, visit travelwithval.com.

As is common practice in the travel industry, Travel With Val often receives complimentary travel or reduced "media" rates at hotels, resorts and attractions, including those that may be featured in these reports. Such consideration is not taken in exchange for any express or implied promise or understanding of any nature, particularly regarding the content of these reports. These reports only feature travel providers personally recommended by Valarie D’Elia in the exercise of her independent editorial judgment, and do not represent the endorsement of Time Warner Cable or any third party.