What to Expect at the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival

Boquete, Panama is around seven hours from Panama City. It is in the Province of Chiriqui, less than 40 minutes from the Costa Rican border in the Western part of the country. Boquete is home to about 25,000 people, with 5,000 of them being expats. The town is known for making amazing coffee from the green mountain highlands and sits at the base of Volcan Baru, Panama’s highest point.

What to Expect at the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival

Every February, Boquete hosts a Jazz and Blues Festival, one of the biggest events in the country of Panama. 2018 marks the 12th Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival (BJBF), “The biggest little festival in the world”. During the event, the town is full of people visiting from around the world and top-notch performers taking the stage.

This year, the BJBF has relocated to the Feria (fairgrounds) and will be bigger and better than ever. From February 22nd to 25th, lasting four days and nights, get ready for fantastic music, art, exhibits, food vendors, and outdoor activities. Here is what to should expect at the 2018 Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival, with headlining acts Spyro Gyra, Osvaldo Ayala, and Grammy nominee Dwayne Dopsie.

The Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival takes place annually in February for four days and nights of sensational musical entertainment.

Photo by Pam Holyk.

Tentative Schedule (see concert schedule here)

Thursday 22nd

11 AM-3 PM Garden Party at Finca Lerida
8:30 PM-12:30 AM Jam Session at Hotel Ladera

Friday 23rd

9 AM-12:00 PM Breakfast, Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Open Mic at Baru
2:30 PM-10 PM Concerts (both main and side stages) at La Feria de Boquete

Saturday 24th

11 AM- 6:15 PM Concerts (both main and side stages) at La Feria de Boquete
8:30 PM-12:30 AM Saturday Jam Session at Hotel Ladera

Sunday 25th

9 AM Art for the School Kids with Olga Sinclair at La Feria de Boquete
11 AM- 6:15 PM Concerts (both main and side stages) at La Feria de Boquete
8:30 PM-12:30 AM Sunday Jam Session at Mike’s Global Grill
After parties held nightly at the Boquete Brewing Company

Tickets

Wristbands may be purchased for a single day of concerts by world-class musicians or the four-day whole shebang event. A 3-Day General Admission costs $109.50, Preferred Shaded Seating $184.50, and Platinum covered and padded seating $375.00 per person. Daily tickets range from $49.50 to $149.00. The cream de la cream of tickets is a Fedora Club Membership for $500 per person with has a wide range of perks.(call or email the festival for details)

Food

Vendors will be available during the jazz fest on the fairgrounds, but if you are looking for good restaurants with fair prices in town, we recommend:

Boquete Fish House
Boquete Sandwich Shop
Sugar and Spice
Otto Gastronomia Restaurant
Paladar at Hotel Valle Del Rio
El Oasis
Big Daddy’s

Lodging

Need a place to stay? Boquete Gardens is the premier luxury accommodations in Boquete.

Explore Beautiful Boquete

There is not a better time to visit Boquete than during the Boquete Jazz and Blues Festival. Add the excellent dining and the beautiful weather, and it is a recipe for a spectacular weekend.