For Immediate Release August 4, 2003 For Additional Information Contact: Roger Krum (916) 372-5277 ext.101 (Sacramento) - The Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society (STJS) today announced that it will no longer present the Old Sacramento Mardi Gras. STJS said organizing and presenting the February event required a heavy dedication of resources at a time when those resources were needed to plan the Society's major event, the annual Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. "Mardi Gras is a worthwhile and important event for music fans, the City and a variety of commercial interests," said Roger Krum, Executive Director of the STJS, "however we found that it took a great deal of time from our volunteers and staff at a time when they needed to be focused on planning and presenting the Jubilee." "Jubilee is our premiere event and it requires our full attention in the months leading up to the Memorial Day weekend," Krum noted. The Jazz Jubilee annually draws more than 100,000 attendees, and contributes approximately $28-million to the city's economy. The Old Sacramento Mardi Gras was first presented in February 1996 by Old Sacramento Management - the organization responsible for Old Sacramento activities. It started as a three day, single venue event. However through the years the time and effort necessary to produce the event grew beyond the capacity of the Old Sacramento Management staff. At the request of Old Sacramento Management, the STJS co-produced the 2002 Old Sacramento Mardi Gras. In 2003, the STJS assumed full responsibility for the Mardi Gras event. It was viewed as a natural lead-in to the Jubilee as well as an opportunity to develop regional attendance with seven venues and twenty-four bands. The February 2003 event generated more than 1,000 hotel room nights in Sacramento. "We knew when we accepted responsibility for the Mardi Gras that it would require time from both staff and volunteers, however we had no idea that the time demands or the expenses would mount as quickly as they did," Krum said. "We do hope the event continues and grows because it fills an important need." STJS has returned operation of the Mardi Gras to the Old Sacramento Management. -0-0-

 

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