Susan Pascal North City Jazz Walk_9664.jpg

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Jazz Walk free?

Two of the venues will be outdoors and free to the public. Both feature ample seating for everyone, and offer outdoor beer gardens for those age 21 and over (please have ID ready for verification).

If you wish to gain access to the indoor venues, you will need to purchase a ticket.

How much are tickets?

2024 ticket prices are $30 in advance (purchased before midnight on Monday August 12); day-of price is $35. Thanks to the generosity of our stage sponsors and in-kind donors, who have helped us cover the costs of permitting, security, signage, and printing, the majority of your ticket fee goes directly to our musicians.

Outside of babies that you will hold in your arms, children are required to have a ticket to access indoor venues, because they are counted as seat-holders by fire code. Ticket holders have access to the seven indoor venues (as well as the two outdoor free venues).

Where can I get tickets?

Tickets are either available online or you can purchase them at one of our two on-site Ticket Kiosks. One is located at the north end of the Jazz Walk (at the intersection of 15th Avenue NE and NE 180th Street); the other is centrally located in front of Chicken Sodam (near 15th Avenue NE and ND 177th Street).

***PLEASE NOTE: the ticket kiosk at the north end (near the intersection of 15th Avenue NE and NE 180th Street) is cash or check only. If you prefer to pay by credit card, come to the centrally located ticket kiosk in front of Chicken Sodam (near the intersection of 15th Avenue NE and NE 177th Street).

Will 15th Avenue NE be closed down for the event this year?

YES! Thanks to some generous sponsors, in-kind donors, and no small effort by Wood Partners, we are beyond excited to be able to close down five blocks of 15th Avenue NE (between 175th and 180th Streets) for the safety and enjoyment of our community.

Where can I park?

On the south end, there is usually ample space in the Safeway parking lot, or at several other lots shown on this map. On the north end, Saint Mark parish offers a large parking lot roughly 2 blocks north of the Walk.

View our parking map here >

Do I need to check in when I arrive?

All ticket holders must check in at a Ticket Kiosk to exchange their ticket for a wrist band. This wrist band is your pass to access the seven indoor venues (wrist bands are faster for us to get you checked in at each venue, with less chance of losing a ticket).

This year we'll have two Check-in / Ticket Kiosks — one located at the north end near the intersection of 15th Avenue NE and NE 180th Street; the other centrally located in front of Chicken Sodam near the intersection of 15th Avenue NE and NE 177th Street.

NOTE 1: avoid waiting in a check-in line and purchase your wristband in advance from one of our local merchants—then NO check-in is required (as long as you're wearing your wrist band).

NOTE 2: if you're only attending the two free outdoor venues, you do NOT need tickets, and do NOT need to check in.

What is the schedule for performances?

Each of our venues features the same band all evening. Each band plays three sets, lasting 45 minutes per set, with a 15 minute break between sets. Two venues are outdoors and free to the general public—these bands start playing at 6:30 pm. The other 7 venues are only accessible by those who purchased tickets / are wearing a wrist band—indoor bands begin playing at 7:00 pm.

Can I bring my kids? Can I bring a dog?

Children are welcome to attend except for the one indoor venue that is serving alcohol and does not have the ability to create the required separation (North City Lounge). Children are not allowed inside the bar area of the other indoor venues, nor in the fenced beer garden portion of the outdoor venues. Outside of babies that you will hold in your arms, children are required to have a ticket to access indoor venues, because they are counted as seat-holders by fire code.

Well-mannered dogs, under control, and on a leash no longer than 6 feet, are welcome at North City Jazz Walk. Flexi-leads are NOT allowed. Please do not bring a dog that is reactive to other dogs, to children, to other people, or is disturbed by loud live music. North City Jazz Walk reserves the right to ask you to remove your dog from the event if we believe there is a problem.

Will there be food and/or beverages available?

Food trucks, two outdoor beer gardens, and several venues are offering special "Jazz Bites" food and beverages for purchase. View the menus we had at the 2024 Jazz Walk here >

Why is the Jazz Walk always on a Tuesday? Wouldn't a weekend be better?

It's partly due to our original affiliation with the Celebrate Shoreline festival, partly about musician availability and support, and partly due to packed summer schedules...

When Keith McClelland first started planning the Jazz Walk back in 2007, the City of Shoreline helped support the cost so that it could be the kick off event for their week long Celebrate Shoreline festival. Tuesday was the day that best fit their schedule.

Being a musician himself, Keith knew musicians didn’t usually have any gigs early in the week, so a Tuesday also meant our jazz artists would have more availability and make a little money during the slower days of the week.

And because nice weekends in the summer are limited in the Pacific Northwest, summer events often get stacked up on weekends, making it more difficult for people to attend everything they're interested in.

All these reasons aside, we certainly understand that people need to work the next day (we do too, we're volunteers)... so that's why we try to wrap it up by 10:00 pm (although you're free to start early so you can leave earlier too).