The weekend that everyone has been talking about has finally arrived: Jazz Fest Weekend. I come from a family who had me listening to jazz music at a very young age, so naturally I was excited just at the name of the event. My teammates went on to tell me that it is one of the most fun weekends in Cork. Over a thousand people from all over the world will come to listen to jazz bands from all over the world. There are different venues in the city ranging from hotels to pubs as to where the bands will be playing, and they don’t stop playing ALL weekend. The atmosphere of the already lively city was amplified by the laughs and loud music. Tent sales filled with chocolate fountains, fried doughnuts, and hand made sweaters lined the streets as they set up the outdoor stages. The anticipation for the event was killing me, but after practice on Friday night the weekend could finally begin! I was fortunate event to get a ticket to the Imperial Hotel with two of my teammates and their group of 10 best friends. This group of girls was not just any group of girls, they were the kind of friend group that welcomed you right from the start, and made you feel like you had been friends with them since you were little. Basically, I got to hang with ten girls who I wish could be my older sisters, needless to say it was so much fun. We all got dressed up in our cocktail dresses because for Jazz Weekend the boys were suits and the girls wear cocktail dresses. All of us looking stunning, we made our way through downtown listening to saxophones and trumpets for miles. The Imperial Hotel was filled with people and their appreciation for good music. I was completely immersed in the Cork culture, and it was one of the first times I truly felt like I was starting to fit in. The amazing weekend can be summarized by: loud Music, lots of laughs and memories made with girls I hope to call friends for the rest of my life.
