JAZZ SAALFELDEN WEEKENDER, August 20-23, 2020

When the Austrian government announced on April 17 that it was canceling all cultural events until the end of August due to Covid-19, we were saddened to learn that our festival would be affected as well. A summer without cultural events and without the Saalfelden Jazz Festival seemed to us like a summer without flowers blooming, without birds chirping, and without picnics on green pastures. When it became clear by the end of May that events could take place again if organizers followed certain guidelines, we immediately met in our backyard, turned on the barbecue, and brainstormed ideas that led to concrete plans. That’s how we came up with the JAZZ SAALFELDEN WEEKENDER! 

Within just a few weeks, we created a music festival for all musical tastes to stand in for our annual jazz festival. Musical events will run the gamut from jazz to pop and will take place on a variety of stages—at the Ranch, the city park, Kunsthaus Nexus, Fuchs bookbindery, the Schloss Ritzen Museum, and on alpine pastures such as Forsthofalm and Stöcklalm. Thanks to Father Alois Moser, concerts will even take place at Saalfelden’s parish church—a first in the festival’s history!

The evening concert at the Ranch on August 20 as well as the three music walks on August 21, 22, and 23 will require paid admission. All other concerts in the Saalfelden city center will be free of charge. Day passes for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are now on sale in our online shop: https://www.jazzsaalfelden.com/en/tickets/buy-tickets-online

Saalfelden will once again reclaim its status as a music mecca in the middle of the mountains this year—and send out a message of confidence, optimism, and joy!

While going forward with our exciting plans, we are also taking the current situation very seriously and will therefore allow only a limited number of guests to our free concerts. In cooperation with our COVID-19 expert, we have developed a comprehensive plan to safeguard the health and well-being of our visitors, artists, and employees at the different venues. Information about safety measures such as compulsory mask-wearing and social distancing can be found at: https://www.jazzsaalfelden.com/en/tickets/Ticket-Info

This year, these safety measures require visitors to register for free day passes. Because of the venues’ different sizes, day passes do not automatically guarantee admission, which will be "FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED". We will hang on to our visitors’ personal data for 28 days after the event so that the authorities can track attendees rapidly in case any visitor has tested positive for COVID-19. Each day pass comes equipped with a QR code, which will be scanned directly at the entrances to the venues. Visitors therefore will not have to register at the ticket information booth prior to the event. Please register online: https://www.jazzsaalfelden.com/en/tickets/buy-tickets-online

In spite of all these restrictions, we are confident that we can host a successful and—in many ways—very special musical weekend in Saalfelden.