Other parking options

Jazz fans can park at Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey, which is located about a 10-minute drive from the festival. It costs $15 to park, but it includes a shuttle ride to and from the festival. Reserve your parking in advance via the festival website.

There’s also limited street parking, but it often means having to hoof it for 10 to 15 minutes to get to the festival site.

And keep an eye open for nearby stores that might be charging to use their parking lots.

Lodging

The festival’s official hotel partner is the Inns of Monterey. Those properties, as shown on the festival’s website, look quite lovely. But, as one would expect, staying in Monterey can be quite pricey this time of year. Save some loot by making a short drive and staying in a place like Salinas.

Food

Plan accordingly and you can certainly dine in style before or after your time at the festival, given the number of great restaurants in Monterey and Carmel. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to eat right around the festival site, expect for the serviceable Denny’s across the street. The best idea is to just eat on-site, enjoying the international offerings — such as Thai and Indian — for sale at reasonable prices.

Don’t bring

The following things are not allowed on the festival grounds: food, coolers, glass bottles, alcoholic beverages, large single-lens reflex cameras, laser pens or lights, audio/video recording devices and pets. Also strollers are not allowed in the arena or other indoor venues.