MOST ASKED QUESTIONS
BIG BEAR LAKE JAZZTRAX SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL
WHERE IS BIG BEAR LAKE?
In the Southern California Mountains above Los Angeles.
HOW HIGH UP? WHAT’S THE ALTITUDE?
The Lake and the Village of Big Bear sit at about 6,200 feet.
Just about the same altitude as the Resort areas of Lake Tahoe.
The Top of the Mountain, top of the Ski Slopes, above the Lake is about 8,000 feet.
WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS THE JAZZTRAX FESTIVAL HELD IN BIG BEAR?
June. The very last week of June. Most people don’t realize that Summer doesn’t really swing in the Mountains, Big Bear or Lake Tahoe, until 4th of July. The raging months are July and August. You’d think it would start with Memorial Day Weekend, but the weather in the mountains can still be a bit strange in late May early June and the nights still cold. By the end of June the mountains are nearing Summer Perfect. JazzTrax comes in just before the 4th of July so there are still plenty of hotel rooms available for festival goers and rental cabins, just before the swarms come.
WHAT’S THE WEATHER EXPECTED TO BE LIKE IN BIG BEAR LAKE ON THE JAZZTRAX LAST WEEKEND IN JUNE?
Temps normally range in the Mid to Upper 70’s during the Mountain Days. At night still in June dropping to around 60 which makes for Warm Summer Days during the festival and Cool Cuddly Fireplace Summer Nights. Later in Summer occasional afternoon Thunderstorms might rumble through, but those are pretty uncommon in June.
Rarely is there rain in June in Big Bear.
But here’s the Big Weather Ticket Item. Southern California down below is famous for it’s June Gloom. A coastal overcast that blankets everything from Santa Barbara down to San Diego and even out to the base of the mountains and the edge of the deserts. Recently that June Gloom has extended much deeper into Summer. Southern Californians will do anything to get out of the Gloomy Summer Overcast. Palm Springs in the Southern California Desert does GREAT Tourism especially in June because it’s Sunny even though it’s 100 to 110 degrees. People don’t care. They want SUN on Summer Weekends.
But in Big Bear it’s almost always SUNNY because Big Bear Lake is Above the Clouds. And Big Bear is 25 to 30 degrees COOLER in the Summer, every day, than the Palm Springs Desert.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DRIVE TO BIG BEAR LAKE?
From the base of the mountain in San Bernardino the Front Way, Highway 330 to when it becomes Highway 18 in Running Springs takes 45 minutes and is the quickest way up. From the base of the mountain in Redlands the Side Way, Highway 38 takes about l hour and is probably the most scenic drive up. There is also a back way, Highway 18 from Lucerne Valley. The actual mountain portion takes only 15 minutes, but to get there you have to drive further, up I-15 through the Cajon Pass to Victorville, then East on Old Woman’s Rd. to Lucerne. The Back Way from Palm Springs however is the easiest from that direction, coming through Yucca Valley and then West on Old Woman’s Road.
Estimated Drive Time From:
Downtown Los Angeles 2 Hours depending on Traffic
San Diego 3 ½ Hours
Las Vegas 3 ½ Hours
Palm Springs 90 Minutes to an Hour and 40 Minutes
Woodland Hills 2 ½ Hours
Temecula 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
Ontario Airport 1 Hour and 15 Minutes
LAX 2 ½ Hours to 3 Hours
Burbank Airport 2 Hours
WHAT DOES BIG BEAR LAKE HAVE RECREATIONALLY?
WINTER it is famous for being all of Southern California (and Las Vegas) Skier and Snowboarder’s Destination. 2 separate but owned by l entity Ski Resorts. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. Bear is world reknowned for it’s fabulous array of Jumps. But the 2 longest runs for Skier’s Delights are both at Bear Mountain. Silver Mountain and Geranimo. Summit has a Top of the Mountain Lodge that is open Summer and Winter. Big Bear Rocks every weekend because of SKIING and BOARDING all Winter. Winter 2010 saw one of the biggest winter snowfalls since the 60’s.
Because of the recent great winters, Big Bear Lake Summer 2010 was filled to the brim. Summer’s offer a full array of Water Sports. The Lake is 11 miles long and when created in the late 1800’s and expanded in the early 1900’s it was the largest man made lake in the world. There are numerous Marina’s offering Boat Rentals, Power Boats, Pontoons, Kayaks. Fishing is huge, from boats or from Shore. Sailing, Para-Sailing, Water Skiing, Wake Boarding. There is a Pirate Ship for tours and a New Orleans style paddle wheeler with constant tours. The Snow Summit sky chair is open all summer with a Barbecue at the Top. Looking out across the Top of the World you are staring straight at 12,500 foot Mt. San Gorgonio close by and Mt. Baldy towards L.A. is the distance. The Big Bear Lake JazzTrax Summer Festival actually began at the very top of Snow Summit with an incredulous view of the lake a couple thousand feet down below.
Bear Mountain has a 9 hole golf course open from June till often Thanksgiving. There is a public swim beach, although the water is always cold. Public Park with Tennis Courts. 2 movie theaters in the village, one a multiplex. A Bowling Barn. Shops galore including many antique stores around the lake including Fawnskin.
ARE THERE GOOD RESTAURANTS IN BIG BEAR?
Everywhere serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. See the Restaurant Page off the Big Bear JazzTrax Page. The Teddy Bear on Pine Knot in the Village is usually serving the latest, and Denny’s on Big Bear Blvd.
WHERE DO FESTIVAL GOERS STAY?
Are there walkable hotels located nearby?
There are 2 Host Hotels literally at the festival site. Marina Resort on who’s lawn the festival is held and Robin Hood Resort right across the street. There are several other hotels you’ll find on our Accomodations Page that are within walking distance, but a bit further beyond. Most prefer NOT to have to drive. It just maximizes the weekend’s relaxation, but there are many more hotels around the lake. The hotel pricing is extremely reasonable. We’ve seen no signs yet of hotel gauging during this JazzTrax Festival.
Another very cool way to spend the JazzTrax Summer Festival Weekend in the Summertime Southern California Mountains is to RENT A CABIN. You’ll find how to do that on our Accomodations Page, but Robin Hood Resort and Boulder Creek Resort both also have cabin rentals. If you find just the right cabin, combined with the JazzTrax Concerts …. This weekend will blow your mind.
There are several Bed and Breakfast Inns. Couple in Fawnskin on the far side of the lake and just above the village and could be a long walk from the festival The Knickerbocker Mansion. Plus Lodges. Plus the Forest Service Camp Ground on the North Shore. Also a number of RV areas including Holloway’s Marina and on the North Shore.
HOW MANY DAYS IS THE JAZZTRAX FESTIVAL IN BIG BEAR?
There is always something offered on Friday Night even if just a warm up show upstairs at Nottingham’s. Then 3 acts on Saturday and 3 acts on Sunday running between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. The shows end just about the time the Sun Sets behind the mountain.
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT TO ATTEND?
No age limit, but children unless they are lap babies, require a ticket.
CAN YOU BRING FOOD OR BEVERAGES INTO THE JAZZTRAX VENUE?
No. The festival has full bar service and full food service.
WHERE IS PARKING?
Well if you stay at the Robin Hood or at Marina Resort your car can sit right where you park it when you arrive All Weekend. You can simply then WALK into the village between or before or after shows for restaurants and shops. And Coffee Shops.
Otherwise park in the Bartlett Rd. Parking Lot at the Visitor’s Center 3 blocks up the backside of Nottingham’s directly across from the festival entrance, but please cross Big Bear Blvd ONLY at the Stop Light. A person was killed crossing a block from the Stop Light. Traffic can move pretty rapidly through here and there is a ridge that Keeps driver’s from line of sight till the last minute.
HOW DO YOU DRESS FOR JAZZTRAX IN BIG BEAR LAKE?
Very Casual. It’s one long session and it can get hot and you are at altitude. Shorts work, but if long pants make ‘em coolant. It’s a lawn so other than comfortable footware for walking through the village, Anything goes, but shoes or sandles are required. Shirts are always required. Perhaps a sweatshirt or light jacket for when it gets cooler in the evening.
IS THERE A SMOKING SECTION?
There is a designated smoking section away from the audience.
Otherwise most of the venue is non smoking. There is In and Out Priviledge for smoking outside or going into the Village during the concerts.
HOW IS THE SEATING SET UP?
It is all Assigned Seating except for back of lawn Bring Your Own Blanket. Club Section is Beach Chairs that begin right at Water’s Edge. Behind that the Main Section is regular Chairs. Some prefer not to sit as low as Beach Chairs sit.
New on Sale for Summer 2010 is a VIP Section of Private Cabana’s.
And a handful of Pontoon Boat Suites that will Float just off to the Side of the Stage. Also New is a less expensive back of lawn section for those wanting to simply sit on blankets. This requires a ticket but your seating is on the blanket you’ve brought in. You can NOT move into assigned seating even if seats are empty with a Blanket Seating ticket.
SO IF THE SEATING IS RIGHT TO WATER’S EDGE WHERE IS THE STAGE?
The JazzTrax Stage is Right On the Lake. It’s a Floating Stage sitting about 10 feet out on the water. The JazzTrax Floating Stage debutted in June 2010 and was an instant hit. However the Sun did set directly behind it so this year the stage will be moved to the Right just enough so the Sun is not in your eyes looking at the Artist. But the Sunset will still be there, on the lake, off to the side.
DO YOU HAVE TO BUY TICKETS FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND?
No you can buy per day. However the very best seats towards the front can only be purchased by Full Series Ticket Purchasers. Those coming for the entire weekend have the right to keeping the same exact seat and those wanting to see the festival in it’s entirety have the first rights to those very best seats. But every seat in the house is great in this LakeSide Venue in the Summertime Mountains.
HOW DO I BUY TICKETS?
Most people now buy their tickets on-line with no need for an operator.
At www.JazzTrax.com you simply click Tickets at the top of our home page. Select Full Weekend Series or Single Session. The seating chart will pop up on your computer. As your browser hovers over specific sections it will show you exactly, to the second, which seats are still available. You just CLICK your seat and purchase. Just remember that if you’ve selected Single Session, you will see blocked out seats that might still be available to Full Series Purchase.
You can also buy the old fashioned way, by phone. 866-TRAX TIX.
But on-line you can peruse through our webpages, as you Apparently are doing right now, and get fully informed on everything JazzTrax Big Bear Lake.
SHOULD I STAY SOME EXTRA NIGHTS?
COME A DAY OR TWO EARLY OR STAY A DAY OR TWO LATER?
Absolutely. Summertime in Big Bear is a Weekend Getaway or a Full Vacation Week Getaway. 4th of July is a week after JazzTrax. You could start a week’s vacation in Big Bear with the JazzTrax Festival and wrap it up with the reknowned 4th of July Fireworks on the lake. Guess what? They shoot the fireworks off the JazzTrax Festival Stage.
Summertime in Big Bear Lake is simply glorious.
Remember. In All the World…..No Place Like This….for Jazz !!!
