Central Wisconsin’s largest jazz festival is just around the corner and will combine local and world renowned talent into two days of entertainment.

The 14th annual Riverfront Jazz Festival will showcase a new lineup this year during the two-day event, held from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, and Sunday, Sept. 4, in Pfiffner Pioneer Park, 1100 Crosby Ave., Stevens Point. This event helps support the Jazz Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP).

The event is free and open to the public. The event usually draws close to 5,000 people during the course of the two days.

“We have Joe Policastro, who has played on the stage before with other groups, along with Mikel Avery who is a UWSP alumni, and we also have the UWSP Jazz Faculty Sextet playing for us,” said Jennifer Bellmer, Riverfront Jazz Festival event manager.

“And we are bringing the biggest names in jazz to a small town who would otherwise not get to see artists like these,” she said.

The Benny Golson Quartet is headlining the festival and will perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

At 87 years old, Golson still travels and performs extensively. He is considered a true jazz innovator, having played in the bands of world famous musicians Benny Goodman, Dizzy Gillepsie, Lionel Hampton, Earl Bostic and Art Blakey. He has performed all over the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.

In addition, Golson has written eight standards for jazz repertoire which have been included in recordings internationally and are still being recorded today.

The UWSP Faculty Sextet will open the festival from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the park followed by Patty and the Buttons from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Patty and the Buttons hail from Minneapolis, and their music consists of originals and traditional tunes with influences from New Orleans, traditional jazz, early blues numbers and vaudeville.

Rounding out the night is the Sara Gazarek Quartet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The quartet includes Wisconsin’s own percussionist Zach Harmon, who began studying classical piano at age 3, and was principal chair percussionist most of his five-year stint with Oshkosh Youth Symphony Orchestra. Harmon has toured with legends such as Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

On Sunday, The Joe Policastro Trio will start at 3 p.m. featuring UWSP alum Avery on drums. The Chicago group is focused on bringing all genres of pop music into jazz. Also from Chicago, trumpet player Greg Duncan will showcase his Spanish-influenced Flamenco Project at 5 p.m.

Golson, again, will close the festival Sunday.

The Riverfront Jazz Festival debuted Labor Day weekend in 2004 with the goals of promoting local jazz musicians, nationally renowned acts, tourism and a family-friendly atmosphere. In its first year it had an attendance of almost 2,000 people for the one-day event.

The following year, the festival expanded into a two-day event with daily attendance being more than 3,000 making the event the largest Jazz Festival in central Wisconsin in just two years. In 2007, the festival gained new management of Riverfront Jazz Festival LLC with a nonprofit designation and added the goal of generating funds for the UWSP Jazz Music Program.

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs, and audience members are encouraged to dance if the music so moves them.

Food vendors include Habibi’s Gyros & Kabob House, Rainbow Snow, Shama Inc., Spitfire and Urban Bistro.

All performances take place on stage at Pfiffner Pioneer Park. Schedule is:

Saturday, Sept. 3

3 to 4:30 p.m., UWSP Faculty Sextet.

5 to 6:30 p.m., Patty and the Buttons.

7 to 8:30 p.m., Sara Gazarek Quartet.

Sunday, Sept. 4

3 to 4:30 p.m., Joe Policastro Trio.

5 to 6:30 p.m., Greg Duncan (Flamenco project).

7 to 8:30 p.m., Benny Golson Quartet.