Jazz festival calls it quits

The Sisters Jazz Festival is calling it quits after a decade-and-a-half of bringing a full weekend of traditional jazz sounds to Sisters each September.

In a prepared statement, the festival board cited a declining audience over the past few years and the loss of the in-town RV park as contributing factors as well as "additional community events this year that negatively affected the festival" and higher overall operation costs that "make it very difficult for the festival to continue."

The festival provided outreach programs into the schools and also featured young jazz artists in addition to its regular stable of bands.

In announcing the end of the event, the festival board thanked "all the volunteers, sponsors and the Sisters community for all the support that has been graciously given over the years" and said, "we certainly could not have done it without you."