Jazz festival adds venue

The Sisters Jazz Festival will open a fourth all-event venue at Sisters Elementary School to make sure patrons have adequate seating at the rejuvenated festival.

The festival board of directors made the decision as advance badge sales for the September 13-15 festival continue to roll in.

"This has been a tricky decision," said festival director Jim Smith. "We had purposely reduced the size of the Jazz Festival in order to hold down expenses. Fortunately, with the cooperation of the Sisters School District, we can open this venue at minimal cost."

Smith noted that the venue would be "small, and intimate, much like a cabaret, except that at this venue we'll have no alcohol service and no smoking."

Though dance floors will not be installed in the school venues, Smith commented that "jazz fans wanting to dance will find a way. They always do!"

Dance floors will be placed in the Village Green and Comfort Inn/Mt. Shadow RV Park venues, Smith said.

Jazz festival badges are available by phone at 549-1332; by mail at P.O. Box 1332, Sisters OR 97759; online at the festival website; www.sistersjazzfestival.com; or in person at the Sisters Chamber of Commerce. Badges will also be available at the venues.