During the academic year, the Albion College Jazz Ensemble performs at Cascarelli’s Restaurant in downtown Albion on Friday evenings.

The group performs pieces of various kinds, including upbeat swing, some sultry ballads, and funk tunes by artist like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Chick Corea and many others.

Music department performances are free and open to the public. Visit the music department website at www.albion.edu/music for more information on future concerts.

In November 1966, the Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce convened a Town Hall meeting at the Parker Inn ballroom for the purpose of developing a plan for Albion’s future. Participants were citizen leaders from businesses, churches, community non-profits and citizens-at-large. Special efforts were made to gain broad community ethnic representation. The outcome from that meeting – a “community festival” to celebrate Albion, its rich heritage and its broad ethnic diversity. Planning for the first Festival began almost immediately.

September was chosen as the month during which the Festival would be held. In May 1967, the committee selected the name “Festival of the Forks” after the forks of the Kalamazoo River in the area now known as Rieger Park. On September 30, 1967, the first Festival of the Forks was celebrated.

The Festival of the Forks now takes place the 3rd weekend in September in Albion’s historic commercial downtown and in the beautiful parks flanking the banks of the Kalamazoo River. It features a wide array of events for all ages, including many musical performances, a juried art show, ethnic foods, a parade, and many other activities.