Big Spring Jam
Encyclopedia
Big Spring Jam is an annual three-day music festival
taking place in Huntsville, Alabama
. The Jam, which began in 1993, typically takes place the fourth weekend in September, beginning Friday and ending Sunday. It features acts from all genres of music including local bands, emerging talent, old favorites, and the top artists of the day. Along with the music, the Big Spring Jam also holds an annual 5k race
.
The title of the festival is a matter of confusion for many, especially those outside Huntsville, as the Big Spring Jam takes place early each autumn. The title, however, comes from the location, Big Spring International Park
in downtown Huntsville.
Big Spring Jam usually features four or more temporary stages set up throughout the park. Each stage typically features the same genres of music throughout the weekend. One stage features country music
exclusively, another features Christian contemporary, and the remainder of the stages are rock
-based.
Unlike most other large-scale music festivals, Big Spring Jam is a not-for-profit event, organized each year by the Huntsville Heritage Foundation in conjunction with the Von Braun Center
. Proceeds from the event benefit local charities, health and human services agencies, and arts and entertainment organizations throughout North Alabama
.
In recent years, the Big Spring Jam has suffered a tarnished reputation due to weather events. In both 2005, and 2006, some of the main acts were canceled due to inclement weather. Despite existing as a non-profit event, Big Spring Jam officials refused to refund ticket prices after canceling events. For example, tickets were sold after the event was rained out in 2006 - and officials refused to refund the ticket prices. Tickets were sold up until the point the event was canceled. However, the 2007 and 2008 events, where the weather was favorable, were deemed highly successful. The 2010 event was cancelled due to financial and logistical issues but event promoters promise a return in 2011.
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
taking place in Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. The Jam, which began in 1993, typically takes place the fourth weekend in September, beginning Friday and ending Sunday. It features acts from all genres of music including local bands, emerging talent, old favorites, and the top artists of the day. Along with the music, the Big Spring Jam also holds an annual 5k race
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
.
The title of the festival is a matter of confusion for many, especially those outside Huntsville, as the Big Spring Jam takes place early each autumn. The title, however, comes from the location, Big Spring International Park
Big Spring Park (Huntsville, Alabama)
Big Spring International Park is located in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. The park is built around its namesake "Big Spring", the original water source that the city of Huntsville was built around...
in downtown Huntsville.
Big Spring Jam usually features four or more temporary stages set up throughout the park. Each stage typically features the same genres of music throughout the weekend. One stage features country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
exclusively, another features Christian contemporary, and the remainder of the stages are rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
-based.
Unlike most other large-scale music festivals, Big Spring Jam is a not-for-profit event, organized each year by the Huntsville Heritage Foundation in conjunction with the Von Braun Center
Von Braun Center
The Von Braun Center , known as the Von Braun Civic Center until 1997, is a multi-purpose indoor arena, meeting, and performing arts complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity of 10,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama...
. Proceeds from the event benefit local charities, health and human services agencies, and arts and entertainment organizations throughout North Alabama
North Alabama
North Alabama is a region of the U.S. state of Alabama, generally considered to include 12 counties: Cherokee, Colbert, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston, with a combined population of 958,247, or 20.84% of the state's population as...
.
In recent years, the Big Spring Jam has suffered a tarnished reputation due to weather events. In both 2005, and 2006, some of the main acts were canceled due to inclement weather. Despite existing as a non-profit event, Big Spring Jam officials refused to refund ticket prices after canceling events. For example, tickets were sold after the event was rained out in 2006 - and officials refused to refund the ticket prices. Tickets were sold up until the point the event was canceled. However, the 2007 and 2008 events, where the weather was favorable, were deemed highly successful. The 2010 event was cancelled due to financial and logistical issues but event promoters promise a return in 2011.