Half Moon Bay Wine and Jazz Festival

The third annual Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival is bigger and better than ever. In addition to the main event on Saturday, June 1st, we’ve added two more special events on Friday and Saturday nights.

Taste Outstanding California Wines

The Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival features some of California’s finest wineries. We believe some of the best wine in the world comes from California, and we hope you’ll come sample them for yourself. When you arrive, you’ll get a commemorative stemless wine glass, tasting tickets, and wristband – then you’ll be free to explore the many winemakers that will line Half Moon Bay’s historic Main Street.

Experience World-Class Jazz

It’s an honor to bring some of the finest jazz musicians in the world downtown for the Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival. Appearing on stage at the Main Event on Saturday are the Jahari Stampley Trio, Kim Nalley Band, Howard Wiley Quartet, and Ayo Brame Quartet.

Jahari Stampley Trio

Jahari Stampley, a 24 year old piano prodigy from Chicago, is the winner of the Herbie Hancock Institute International Competition and is considered one of the fastest rising stars in jazz. Jahari released his debut album entitled “Still Listening” which rose to #1 on Apple iTunes in the first weeks of the album’s release.

Kim Nalley Band

Dr. Kim Nalley has been called “legendary” and a “San Francisco institution” and is a fixture of the San Francisco jazz scene with her 3½ octave range and incomparable stage presence. The SF Chronicle says “She has been compared to all the greats, but in the end, it’s Kim Nalley and no one else – an unforced instrument with clarity and jazzy musicality, effortlessly delivered, and a sense of humor to boot.”

Howard Wiley Quartet

Howard Wiley is a Resident Artistic Director at SFJazz and has been heralded as “the most prodigious Bay Area saxophonist of his generation.” He has performed at jazz festivals worldwide, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Fest, Cape Town Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, and SXSW.

Michela Marino Lerman

Michela Marino Lerman is the Artist-in-Residence for the 2024 Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival. She’s an internationally-known tap dance artist who has appeared everywhere from Sesame Street to a US postage stamp, and during Saturday’s event you’ll find her performing alongside Howard Wiley on the Main Stage.

Ayo Brame Quartet

Ayo Brame, at only 16 years old, is a talented, up-and-coming saxophonist out of Oakland, California and has been labeled “an emerging force” in jazz. In addition to the saxophone, he plays the clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and music production where he’s beginning to lay original tracks.

Beer and Cider Garden

It’s a wine and jazz festival, but if wine isn’t your thing, or you’re just craving a cold one to wash down that delicious food from the food court, beer and cider will be available for purchase from a some great local breweries and cideries!

Saturday Sunset Swing

For those who want to keep the party going after the main event, the Saturday Sunset Swing features Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers.

The Grammy-nominated jazz singer and swing revivalist leads her all-star band of musicians to close out the festival at Half Moon Bay’s historic San Benito House on Main Street.

Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers

Lavay Smith is the vocalist and bandleader of the Red Hot Skillet Lickers, one of the top swingin’ Jazz and Blues bands in the world. Lavay has become an internationally recognized Diva of Jazz and Blues, with a singing style influenced by Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, Little Esther Phillips and other legendary greats.

Schedule of Events:

Main Event

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Taste some of California’s finest wines and meet the winemakers from 50 different wineries throughout the state. Your ticket comes with a commemorative tasting glass and a punch card for tastings at 10 wineries.

Location: Main Street, Half Moon Bay

Get Tickets - $175 each plus service fee

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Saturday Sunset Swing

Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers perform at this special after-party event at the historic San Benito House on Main Street.

Get Tickets - $60 each plus service fee

Location: San Benito House, 356 Main Street