There are a few weekends each year when Kiama feels a little different.

The streets are busier, the venues hum a bit louder, and music drifts into places it doesn’t usually reach.

You see familiar faces, along with plenty of new ones, all sharing the same spaces and the same moments. The Jazz Festival has long been one of those weekends — not just because of the music, but because of the feeling it creates across the town.

This year looks a little different. After nearly four decades, the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival Committee has pressed pause on the event, with plans to return for a special 40th anniversary celebration in 2027. That decision wasn’t made lightly, and it reflects just how much time, energy and commitment goes into running a festival of this scale year after year.

But what hasn’t changed is the community’s love of live music — or the importance of this weekend to Kiama.

When the festival went into recess, Council worked closely with local businesses and venues to help keep live music alive across town during the traditional festival weekend. The result is a community-led live music weekend, with venues curating their own performances and Council playing a simple coordinating role — helping connect people, promote what’s happening and support local effort.

When music spills into streets, pubs and community spaces, something special happens. You see people of all ages out enjoying themselves. Locals mix easily with visitors who’ve travelled from near and far, drawn by great music and a beautiful setting. There’s a sense of joy and energy you can’t manufacture ... and you certainly can’t put a price on.

What I’ve always loved about the Jazz Festival, and what carries through into this year’s music weekend, is the way everyday places become shared experiences. You might wander into a venue without knowing who’s playing, only to find yourself captivated by someone you’ve never heard of — and still talking about it long after the night ends. That’s the power of culture in a regional community.

The festival also carries deep history. For 39 years it has been shaped by passionate locals who believed Kiama should be a place where music and creativity thrive. Many people have given their time and energy to make it what it is today, and it’s important we acknowledge those contributions — and those we’ve lost along the way.

These events become woven into the fabric of a town, through friendships, familiar faces and memories people look forward to revisiting each year.

In regional communities, culture and the arts don’t always get the attention they deserve. They can be taken for granted or noticed most when they’re under pressure. But moments like this remind us why they matter — not just for visitors or local businesses, but for connection, wellbeing and pride of place.

Events like the Jazz Festival don’t just entertain — they shape the character of a town. They bring people into shared spaces, create memories that last well beyond a weekend, and remind us that culture has a place in everyday life, not just on special occasions.

If we want Kiama to remain a place that feels alive, welcoming and connected, we need to continue valuing and supporting the events that make it so. Because when music fills our streets, it’s a sign of a community that isn’t just growing — but truly thriving.

Or these moments, when our streets are filled with sound and celebration, speak to a community that honours its people, its culture and the spaces where our stories unfold.

Please note - this is paid content