By Melissa Thomas
\nWhat began as a parking lot event with 1,000 attendees, Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival, produced by the City of Miami Gardens, has grown its audience by hosting music mainstays every year and made history in 2015 with a record 73,000 attendees. The 11th Annual Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival is happening March 19-20, 2016 at the Sun Life Stadium (2269 NW 199th Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056), preceded by the Women\u2019s Impact Luncheon on March 18th. Rickey Smiley, a comedy legend in his own right, returns for the second year in a row to host this year\u2019s festival. Twelve of the fifteen artists in the lineup are transcendent stars, even the younger faces. \u201cThis is our signature annual event that people from all over the world look forward to attending every year,\u201d said City of Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert. \u201cLast year\u2019s event took Jazz in the Gardens to the next level, and with this year\u2019s lineup of top-notch musical talent, we expect this year will continue the trend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here is this year\u2019s complete lineup and times:<\/p>\n
Saturday, March 19
\n3:00 p.m. \u2013 Doors open
\n4:00 \u2013 4:20 p.m. \u2013 CriStyle Renae
\n4:30 \u2013 4:50 p.m. \u2013 April Raquel Koture Funk
\n5:00 \u2013 6:00 p.m. \u2013 The Jazz in the Gardens All Stars featuring Najee, Alex Bugnon, and Regina Belle
\n6:20 \u2013 7:20 p.m. \u2013 Average White Band
\n7:40 \u2013 8:40 p.m. \u2013 Michael McDonald
\n9:00 \u2013 10:10 p.m. \u2013 Kool & the Gang
\n10:30 \u2013 11:45 p.m. \u2013 Aretha Franklin<\/p>\n
Sunday, March 20
\n3:00 p.m. \u2013 Doors open
\n4:00 \u2013 4:20 p.m. \u2013 LaVie
\n4:35 \u2013 5:35 p.m. \u2013 Fred Hammond
\n5:55 \u2013 6:55 p.m. \u2013 Brian Culbertson
\n7:10 \u2013 8:10 p.m. \u2013 Babyface
\n8:30 \u2013 9:30 p.m. \u2013 Janelle Monae
\n10:00 \u2013 11:15 p.m. \u2013 Usher<\/p>\n
For more information and to grab tickets, visit www.jazzinthegardens.com.<\/p>\n