JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — UPDATE: The Jacksonville Jazz Festival resumed around 8:45 p.m. Saturday after suspending performance for more than an hour as thunderstorms moved from the downtown area.
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival was suspended Saturday night after thunderstorms moved through the downtown area, bringing lightning and heavy rain to the event that was scheduled to end at 11 p.m.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said around 7:15 p.m. Saturday that the Jazz Festival Administration chose to suspend the event as a safety measure.
Patrons attending the event as the storm rolled through the area were asked to shelter in their vehicles if possible.
Others who didn't have a vehicle were advised by event staff to go to EverBank Stadium using Gate 1 and Gate 4 to take shelter. At the same time, people who were in Daily's Place were told to go to the South End Zone and Main Concourse areas for shelter as advised by event staff.
"We apologize for the delays," the Jacksonville Jazz Festival wrote on social media.
Saturday marked Day 3 for the event. Gregory Porter was set to perform from 7:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Met Park Stage followed by Brian Culbertson from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Huntertones were scheduled to perform from 7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at the Daily's Place Stage along with Robin Thicke from 9:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The Jacksonville Jazz Festival began on Thursday and is scheduled to run through Sunday.
