Monday, July 4, 2011

Iowa City Jazz Fest is more than just music


Written by Lee Hermiston
The name might be Jazz Fest, but there's much more to Iowa City's mid-summer event than music.

Though a lineup of jazz musicians is the main draw for the three-day event, Summer of the Arts organizers have made sure there is something for everyone.
For 3-year-old Graham Kerr, that something was an inflatable jump castle. The young boy also had "Spider-Man"-style face painting.

"We had lunch and came right over here," said Zach Kerr, Graham's father.
Kerr said he and the rest of his family -- wife, Hayley, and son, Thomas -- planned to check out some music and see what else they could do at the event. But with the midday heat bearing down, Hayley said she had something else in mind.
"Relax in the shade," she said.

With his wife and his other children out of town, Don Peterson brought his son, Zach, 10, over to the Iowa City Jazz Festival for some father-son time. Peterson watched on as his son jousted with a friend.

"We decided to come down here and check things out," he said. "It's a nice, family-friendly event."

The event also gives business owners a new audience to showcase their products to. Chris Carney, owner of Minnesota-based Simply Nuts, said he opens up a stand for each of the Summer of the Arts event.

"The big thing is bringing something healthy to eat," Carney said. "Something that's not fried. It's all very fresh."

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