Is Vanport Jazz Festival VIP Seating Worth The Price?

For the past several years Vanport, Oregon has been a destination my husband and I, along with several friends have made our way to each summer to enjoy the festivities of the Vanport Jazz Festival. In 1948, this area was destroyed in a matter of hours by horrific flooding. Now graced with the Colwood Golf Center, this area has become a haven for music lovers. Majestic skies, towering trees, geese flying in formation, planes landing at the nearby Portland International Airport and so much more can be easily viewed as you sit amongst the beautiful greenery. Over the past several years, low back lawn chairs, strategically placed upon the grounds have been our special space, while taking in the sweet jazz sounds filling the stage from visiting artists. But, after a recent discussion, and despite being more costly we decided to purchase VIP seating to see if the cost justified the investment.

The weather was predicted to be sunny over the weekend, and we planned accordingly to ensure our clothing would keep us comfortable, arrival allowed enough time to check in at the hotel, relax a bit, and make our way towards the Colwood Golf Center parking lot. I was somewhat nervous about what might occur, as I had faced a few challenges with receiving my parking ticket voucher which was one of the listed perks of purchasing VIP. For some reason I never received the voucher which was said to have been emailed to me, and neither did any of my friends that I was attending with. After making numerous calls to see what was happening and feeling brushed off, I was left to hunt it down. A pleasant Ticket Tomato, customer service representative helped me obtain a voucher the day before our departure. Another couple we knew managed to obtain theirs as well, while the last couple did not receive one and was told they could obtain a voucher once there.

With things starting off shaky, we felt unsure about what was coming. Once at the lot entrance, a quick display of our event tickets allowed entrance, and we were directed in to Parking Lot A and easily found a space up front within minutes. Directed to a nearby area, we received our VIP wristbands, and additional items for admittance to our select area. Golf cart shuttle service was available for those that wanted a ride down front, which we took advantage of.

Momentarily, we were heading down the slight incline towards the white VIP fenced in area visible within the distance. Numerous vendors could be seen along the way with their various items for sale: clothing, popcorn, beverages, BBQ, chicken... and much more. Pleasantly surprised, we were dropped off right outside our seating area which was filled with circular tables covered with white table cloths (8 people per table,) and a simple carnation flower arrangement adorned each one. Numbers atop each table informed guests of their specific spot for seating. Several people we met stated that in the past seat numbers were not on the tables and this caused confusion at times. Our table was steps away from another white tent covered area, which housed a table to purchase tickets which would later be used to obtain beverages etc. VIP guests were given complimentary beverage tickets for each day of attendance. A meet and greet area was nearby which some artists came to after their performance. Small talk, picture taking, purchasing of CDs etc. occurred here. A very pleasant surprise was multiple bathrooms located nearby for VIP guests. Clean, noted fresh smelling aromas, bright lighting, hooks to place a jacket or purse while using the bathroom, a sink with adequate spacing for personal items, as well as a fair size mirror. Some bathrooms had mini mats in them on the floor, but all offered enough space to move around. This was cause to celebrate, and not having to stand in long lines when I needed to make a bathroom trek was an added bonus.

Festival day one had a 6pm start time for the show to begin, but actually things started almost 2.5 hours later. Many guests were restless, while waiting for the show to commence. My group of friends felt the same. Others voiced their frustration having rushed to the venue, only to not be informed of what was causing the delay. When several crew members were questioned , no one seemed to have an answer. Two acts graced the stage that day with some noticeable sound difficulties with the equipment. Adding to the frustration of this delayed event, was the omission of any apology geared towards the guests. Rather conversation made light of the late start and was plagued with reminders that the staff and sound people worked hard to set things up. While all this is true, it felt disrespectful. Grumbles around my table, and nearby ones expressed guest frustrations with driving for hours to be on time, only to have to sit for hours before anything began. Day one had several areas which needed improvement, and served as a reminder that an acknowledgement, and an "I'm sorry," can go a long way. No matter who you are, everyone wants to feel respected.

Day Two, parking once again was simple. VIP guests were invited to the Colwood Golf Center Clubhouse for Mimosas and simple breakfast offerings. Pleasant conversation amongst guests could be heard throughout. A lovely view of the grounds was visible from the expansive windows, many guests sat out on the deck area to take in a closer look of the grounds, and relax before the festivities commenced. New VIP badges were distributed for the day so that crew could verify who had paid for the second day, shuttle service was available once again down to the grounds, and reminders to pick up complimentary swag bags under the white tents near the stage was reiterated. We decided to get our bags early in case a line formed later. Swag bags contained a handheld paper fan, monogramed baseball hat, bandana, lip moisturizer, a monogramed whiskey glass, and each person received a Vanport Jazz Festival t-shirt containing a list of the 2023 artists and sponsors on the back.

Thumbs up for day two of festivities. Free, tasty Guayaki Yerba Mate beverages were made available to guests. The performances started thirty minutes late but it was evident organizers were coming in full force determined to ensure guests left satisfied this day. Julian Vaughn graced the stage and got things jumping with his bass guitar, sunglasses and striking red shoes. A welcome appearance after some of the challenges the previous day, and the crowd's excitement was visible. Setup for additional performances throughout the day averaged a 3o minute intermission which included streamed music. Guests danced amongst the crowds happily while waiting. A good time was happening within the surroundings. The talents of Adam Hawley, Goapele, Boney James, and Average White Band graced the stage with a Bam! Making up for the previous day and bringing the sweet sounds of jazz across the grounds- giving guests what they came to see.

An almost 3 three hour drive from Seattle to Vanport, Oregon proved to be a weekend of fun. The sweet sound of jazz graced my ears with talent hard to surpass. While the Vanport Jazz Festival in its 6th year has a few areas to tweak, its deliverance of great music is evident. The VIP offerings and their perks are worth the investment in my opinion, and I look forward to seeing what upcoming talent will fill the stage and breath life in to the flourishing Portland jazz scene.

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