As rich as the heritage of Clark College itself, the Clark College Jazz Festival has been host to one of the largest jazz festivals in Southwest Washington for over 60 years! Held the last weekend in January in Gaiser Hall on the beautiful Clark College campus, the festival attracts over 60 middle and high school instrumental jazz ensembles for the three-day competitive festival. During the day, groups perform to an esteemed panel of adjudicators made up of renowned jazz educators and performers for the privilege of returning to perform in the evening finals competition where they will be ranked for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. On the final evening of the festival, one band from the entire festival is selected to receive the coveted Sweepstakes Trophy, a tradition which has been passed down since 1963.