Easily the biggest, best jazz festival in the Twin Cities. Organizers have a knack for booking an intoxicating combo of next year’s stars and bona fide legends. This year’s featured artists are piano wizards Kenny Werner and Cyrus Chestnut, sax man Walter Smith III, and drummer/composer extraordinaire Matt Slocum. But there’s plenty more in the bars and restaurants around Mears Park—and it’s all free.

June 27–29, Mears Park, St. Paul, hotsummerjazz.com