• Overview

    The Exit Zero Jazz Festival takes place twice a year, Spring and Autumn, in the shoulder tourist seasons of the national historic landmark city of Cape May, a picturesque beach town on the very southern tip of New Jersey.

    The music and energy can be heard and felt everywhere—on the streets in the form of New Orleans style
    second line parades, in the clubs and restaurants bursting at the seams with excitement and on the
    Main Stage, with international touring artists throwing down at what has become one of the most respected and creative jazz festivals in the country.

    SPRING EXIT ZERO JAZZ FESTIVAL
    The 2024 Spring Exit Zero Jazz Festival takes place from April 19-21, 2024. World-class international touring artists perform on the Festival Main Stage in Cape May Convention Hall and in the intimate setting of the bars and restaurants in Cape May.

    Headlining the Spring Festival is Branford Marsalis with his Quartet. Branford to thrill audiences around the world while racking up achievements across diverse musical platforms, even after four decades in the international spotlight. From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, he has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, bandleader and educator, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an unwavering creative integrity. In the process, he has become an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence winning three Grammy Awards, a Tony nomination for his work as a composer on Broadway, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as Jazz Master and a 2021 Primetime EMMY nomination for the score he composed for the Tulsa Burning documentary.

    Also appearing on the Cape May Convention Hall Main Stage is the 2024 Artist in Residence, Camille Thurman, the Joey Alexander Quartet, Dayramir Gonzalez, the Christian Sands Quartet, Matthew Whitaker and more. A full music schedule also occurs in the Cape May bars and restaurants.

    The joy of the Exit Zero Jazz Festival is in the discovery of incredible musicians and music you may never have know existed. You might find yourself one minute second-lining to a New Orleans brass band through the streets of Cape May, and, in the next, snaking through town behind a 22-piece Brazilian drum bloco.

    See the link above to purchase tickets in advance. There are no ticket service fees applied to walk-up sales. All sales are final.

    AUTUMN EXIT ZERO JAZZ FESTIVAL
    The 2024 Autumn Exit Zero Jazz Festival takes place October 25-27, 2024.
  • Dates

    04/19/24 04/20/24 04/21/24 10/25/24 10/26/24 10/27/24
  • Nearby:

    •  Dining

      • Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture)
        0.7 MI
        609-884-5404 View >
      • Black Duck on Sunset
        0.8 MI
        609-898-0100 View >
      • The Old Grange Restaurant
        3.3 MI
        609-884-0114 View >
      • Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery
        5.7 MI
        609-846-7347 View >
      • Boardwalk Bar & Grill
        6.9 MI
        609-522-2431 View >
      • Blue Water Grille
        7.0 MI
        609-522-0303 View >
      • Casey's on Third
        8.4 MI
        609-522-7799 View >
      • The Princeton Grill & Bar
        16.0 MI
        609-967-3456 View >
    •  Lodging

      • The Heritage Inn
        0.0 MI
        609-884-7300 View >
      • Hotel Macomber
        0.1 MI
        609-884-3020 View >
      • Lokal Hotel
        0.1 MI
        609-536-9157 View >
      • Stockton Inns
        0.1 MI
        609-884-4036 View >
      • Avondale by the Sea
        0.1 MI
        609-884-2332 View >
      • Camelot Motel
        0.1 MI
        609-884-1500 View >
      • Mooring Bed & Breakfast
        0.1 MI
        609-884-5425 View >
      • Bedford Inn
        0.1 MI
        609-884-4158 View >
      View More +
    •  Activities

      • Cape May Convention Hall
        0.0 MI
        609-898-4500 View >
      • Soldiers Monument
        0.2 MI
        View >
      • East Lynne Theater Company
        0.2 MI
        609-602-8703 View >
      • Cape May Carriage Company
        0.3 MI
        609-884-4466 View >
      • Washington Street Mall
        0.3 MI
        View >
      • Cape May Day Spa
        0.4 MI
        609-898-1003 View >
      • Cape May
        0.4 MI
        609-884-3058 View >
      • Cape May Stage
        0.4 MI
        609-770-8311 View >
      View More +
    •  Events

      • World Series of Birding
        May. 11, 2024
        2.5 MI
        609-400-3868
        View >
      • U Pick Flowers and Guided Farm Tour
        May. 1 - Sep. 28, 2024
        3.0 MI
        609-602-6123
        View >
      • Wildwood Crest Seafarers Celebration
        Sep. 21, 2024
        4.8 MI
        609-523-0202
        View >
      • Run the Crest
        Oct. 5, 2024
        5.4 MI
        (609) 523-0202
        View >
      • Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival
        Jul. 12, 2024
        5.8 MI
        609-523-0202
        View >
      • Wildwoods International Kite Festival
        May. 24-27, 2024
        6.3 MI
        609-729-9000
        View >
      • Boardwalk Outdoor Craft Show
        May. 25 - Sep. 1, 2024
        6.5 MI
        609.522.0198
        View >
      • Sports Card, Toys, Comics & Collectibles Show
        Jul. 5 - Aug. 25, 2024
        6.5 MI
        732-422-9365
        View >
      View More +
      •   Lodging

        The Heritage Inn
        0.0 MI
        609-884-7300
        View >
      •   Activities

        Cape May Convention Hall
        0.0 MI
        609-898-4500
        View >
      •   Lodging

        Hotel Macomber
        0.1 MI
        609-884-3020
        View >
      •   Lodging

        Lokal Hotel
        0.1 MI
        609-536-9157
        View >
      •   Lodging

        Stockton Inns
        0.1 MI
        609-884-4036
        View >
      •   Lodging

        Avondale by the Sea
        0.1 MI
        609-884-2332
        View >
      •   Lodging

        Camelot Motel
        0.1 MI
        609-884-1500
        View >
      •   Lodging

        Mooring Bed & Breakfast
        0.1 MI
        609-884-5425
        View >
      View More +

Explore Exit Zero Jazz Festival