Jubilee CityFest bids farewell | Events

Montgomery, Al.  - After 36 years of providing entertainment and promotion to the River Region, Jubilee CityFest’s board of directors voted to retire the festival.   When the festival started in 1976, the downtown was a blighted ghost town.  Community leaders wanted to change the environment by working together to increase tourism and business in the Capital City.  Jubilee was created and its mission was to create an exciting, vibrant, downtown, yearly events showcasing Alabama’s Historic Capital City.

 In1992 Jubilee changed its name to Jubilee CityFest and formed a non-profit organization with a volunteer board of directors and a full time executive director. Soon the festival became the largest family music festival in the River Region, bringing local, regional, and nationally known entertainment to the River Region and state.  Over the years, approximately 1.6 million people gathered in the downtown area in a safe, family friendly environment to watch some of the biggest names in entertainment, such as: Bruno Mars, James Brown, Taylor Swift, Hank Williams, Jr.  Little Richard, John Mayer, Beach Boys, Keith Urban, Goo Goo Dolls, B.B. King, Hootie and the Blowfish, LL Cool J, Soulja Boy and 3 Doors Down to name a few.

Today downtown Montgomery boasts a thriving entertainment district, new restaurants, hotels, a convention center, apartments, baseball stadium, alleyway and a riverboat.  More exciting venues are being planned for the future.

 “Although it has been an incredible ride, the board of directors decided the festival’s mission has been accomplished.  The City of Montgomery has the assets to bring events into the area and the board felt that continuing the festival was a duplication of resources. We are confident that they will take up the gauntlet and lead the region into bringing fun and exciting venues to downtown,” said Dick Morris, Chairman of the festival. 

 “We want to thank the patrons, volunteers, sponsors, county, state and city that supported the festival.  They have been loyal to the event through good times and lean times.  We are bidding farewell on a positive note.  The festival will end in the black and after meeting all of the financial obligations, it will donate the remaining balance to the River Region United Way,” stated Morris.

Information Source: Jubilee City Fest