Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti headlines opening night of the 47th Clearwater Jazz Holiday on Thursday, Oct. 15, launching four days of jazz, blues, funk and roots music at Coachman Park.

The festival runs through Sunday, Oct. 18, at the downtown waterfront park, 300 Cleveland St. Gates open at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, according to the official festival schedule.

Single-day tickets start at $49.92 in advance, with multiday packages and reserved seating available through ClearwaterJazz.com.

Botti, Sheila E. and Larkin Poe lead four-night lineup

Thursday's Cool Jazz program begins on the Tampa Bay Times Stage at 6 p.m. with saxophonists Kim Waters and Jeff Kashiwa and guitarist Steve Oliver. A lighting ceremony follows at 7 p.m., before Botti takes the stage from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Friday's Feel the Rhythm lineup features Cuban-born trumpeter Arturo Sandoval from 7 to 8:30 p.m., followed by Sheila E. & The E-Train from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

Saturday shifts to Blues & Brass, with New Orleans group Big Sam's Funky Nation performing at 7 p.m. and roots rock duo Larkin Poe closing the night at 9 p.m.

Sunday's Roots & Funk finale features Dumpstaphunk Plays Sly at 6 p.m., followed by The Wood Brothers at 8 p.m.

Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation CEO Steve Weinberger told St. Pete Catalyst that the festival's range extends beyond the main-stage headliners.

"If you take everything into account, including all the side stages, there's a lot of jazz, a lot of really, really great jazz," Weinberger said.

Free side-stage concerts offer additional options

Visitors can attend free performances on the VSPC Plaza Stage and Surfside Pier Party Stage each day before the main-stage concerts.

The stages feature local and regional performers, including the TomKats Jazz Orchestra, Latin Jazz Knights, Carl Fischer & Sunshine City Brass and the Clearwater Jazz Holiday Youth All-Stars.

The festival also offers free access to the Sunset Bluff area, where visitors can enjoy waterfront views and the event atmosphere.

Tickets are required for the main-stage lawn and reserved seating areas. Blankets and lawn chairs are permitted in designated general admission and Sunset Bluff areas, according to the festival's visitor information.

Festival supports music education across Pinellas County

The Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 1989, supports music education and youth development programs throughout Pinellas County.

Its year-in-review report lists 29 educational presentations reaching more than 3,500 students, nine school visits, a monthlong residency at Sandy Lane Elementary School and approximately $22,000 in scholarships and other funding.

Chef Cameron Capri, owner of Q Southern BBQ restaurants in Oldsmar and Dunedin, is returning to provide food for guests, staff and performers. He told Tampa Bay 28 that feeding the large festival crowd requires extensive preparation.

Downtown parking is available in public garages and lots. Harbor Marine Parking, also known as Lot 11, is among the closest options to Coachman Park and costs $2 per hour until 6 p.m., according to Visit St. Pete-Clearwater.

The Garden Avenue and Station Square garages offer free parking after 7 p.m. Visitors can also reach the park by trolley, ferry or rideshare.

Tickets, the complete performance schedule and festival information are available at ClearwaterJazz.com.