One dusky winter's eve in early 1998, a handful of West Bend Sunrise Rotarians, inspired by a fireside chat, began fanning the flames on a hot idea: stage an upscale, high quality, regional jazz festival with a national reputation within West Bend's premier park system.
Bolstered by internationally recognized entertainers, they imagined the event would draw thousands of contemporary jazz lovers from all over the Midwest. The vision included people casually strolling the picturesque banks of the upper Milwaukee River, fine artists displaying their original works, and well-known area restaurateurs serving international fare — all while the tunes of saxophones, trumpets, and guitars rolled from one end of the northern Kettle Moraine to the other.
Their grandiose concept was realized on September 11 and 12, 1998, and it has been recreated annually on the Friday and Saturday after Labor Day ever since.
Proceeds from the event benefit area charitable organizations through the West Bend Sunrise Rotary Foundation, as the club sought to establish itself in both the local community and greater Rotary organizations with its high-profile extravaganza, and it did! In its history, the festival has contributed nearly $360,000 to charitable groups in southeastern Wisconsin. Funds have gone to...
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