Rizal Park Jazz Festival

A Festival to Remember

Jose RIZAL Park JAZZ Festival

The Rizal Park Festival started in 2009 and was originally named the Rizal Park Music and Art Festival. Tess Guerzon is the co founder and started the festival in memory of her mother, Zenaida Guerzon who passed away suddenly in August 2005. Growing up with many memories of the park and even going to the Philippines to contract the artist and arrange to bring the bust back to the US. Zenaida was instrumental in naming the park and bridge after Dr Jose Rizal, A filipino hero, educator and martyr. She was the vice chair and worked side by side with Vic Bacho and family friend and fellow activist, who chaired the Rizal Park and Bridge Preservation Society. The festival went from 2009-2012 and then there was a 6 year hiatus due to Tess having a young child at home in memory of my mother and others activist that named this iconic park and bridge back in the early 1980's. (pls see credits below)

It a great event bringing Filipino Americans together as well as the community as a whole. The Festival is typically held the Sunday after Seafair in August.

There is live music thru out the day from 12-7pm featuring our local filipino jazz musicians. We also feature our culture thru our food and feature small businesses. The most popular dishes are our famous filipino pork and chicken bbq, pancit, lumpia, adobo and the very popular shaved ice dessert Halo Halo!

Its a great community event that brings people together thru music and food. (the 2 things filipinos are passionate of) So come and enjoy a day of music in the Park! Dr Jose Rizal Park. Located on North Beacon Hill, right across the street from the Pac Med building(Formerly Amazon and Veterans hospital).

Address: 1007 12th Ave S. Seattle, Wa 98178

Become a Part of the Festival

The Rizal Park JAzz Festival started in 2009 in remembrance of the activist group of the 1970's and 1980's that help name the park and bridge that stands to day. My mother was an integral part of group and worked tirelessly in the naming of the park with (tito)Vic Bacho. This Tito Vics words "What can a Filipino do to improve his image so he can be recognized, respected, and treated as an equal?” My mom share his vision and was also a proud filipina and wanted to promote our culture. She did so thru education(she was the first to introduce Tagalog and Franklin HS and had businesses in Chicago (the Philippine Gift shop) and Seattle (the Pearl of the orient) we also sold Philippine handicrafts and state fairs in the midwest. and she even had a small stint as a restaurant owner called Tropicana (Where the Honey Court restaurant is today).

I grew up with many memories of this park and went to many events there. My mother secured the funding and also contracted the artist and arranged for the bust to be brought back to Seattle. I was there in the Philippines when we met the Artist Anastacio Caedo. It was an amazing experience meeting this sculptor but what I remember most is his pet eagle in his studio! That was a treat to see an eagle that up close! Anyway, When she passed suddenly of a heart attack in August 2005 and being a lover of music and the arts. I started this event to create awareness of the park and to honor those who worked so hard to get this Park and Bridge named after Dr Jose Rizal Park, which by the way, the Dr Jose Rizal Bridge is the only bridge in the nation named after Dr Jose Rizal! so that alone is a big accompishment for the filipino community. This was Tito Vic's (Bacho) dream!

My event lasted for 4 years but during that time, I had a small child and it was too much for me to undertake. After 7 years of it being dormat it was revived thru encouragement of the Filipino community and Anthony Cordova (his uncle's mosaic East West is at the park) we started it up again in 2019.

Welcome

Music in the Park

A Festival to Remember

Jose RIZAL Park JAZZ Festival

About Us

Rizal Park and Bridge Preservation Society (RPBPS)

Become a Part of the Festival

UPCOMING-ANNUAL RIZAL PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL