PRESS RELEASE
April 3, 2025
Fillmore Merchants Association announces the cancellation of the beloved annual free two day, 12 block 2025 Fillmore Jazz Festival due to lack of funding.
Producing a free two – day festival in San Francisco incurs hundreds of thousands of investments in production, security, recycling, staffing, staging, city fees, musicians, marketing, porte-potties and much more. The non-profit association is in debt due to production costs.
Revenues from sponsorships and grants have not returned to their pre-pandemic levels and so are giving ourselves a year in advance to raise money and obtain donations to conduct this wonderful Fillmore Jazz Festival in 2026, with public support and donations to our newly established Fillmore Jazz Festival Preservation Fund. In anticipation of going into the production of 2026 with all expenses covered in advance, we trust that each year, revenue derived from sponsorships, donations and vendor fees will go to the next year and keeping the Pacific Coast’s and San Francisco’s largest Jazz Festival alive for years to come.
In response to the announcement, there is community building effort to collect funding to support several jazz quartets playing on Fillmore sidewalks and at Calvary Presbyterian Church and at Jones Memorial United Methodist during the July 5 – 6th weekend.
“2025 is not financially viable. We turn our focus and efforts to building the resources needed to host the Fillmore Jazz Festival July 4 & 5th 2026” – FMA President Tim Omi
“We are forced to face the sad reality that we cannot afford to pull off a 12 block street festival in 2025. We are in debt to the very support companies we would need this year. It breaks our hearts to share this news but we are determined and focused on the future.” Patti Mangan – FMA Executive Director
“ We need to save the Fillmore Jazz Festival – after all these years of gifting jazz to San Francisco- we need to give back. We need to be loyal and support each other for all to be successful.” Jones Memorial United Methodist Minister of Music Ricardo Scales
Ricardo is committed to supporting the Fillmore Jazz Festival spiritually and financially this year and in the future.
Ricardo Scales is an acclaimed American pianist, composer, and musical director known for his versatility across various genres, including jazz, classical, Latin, and contemporary music. Ricardo is the Minister of Music at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church, and founder and President of Bay area record company and studio DGRP Bay Sound Records.
Donations accepted at Fillmorejazzfest.com
