Well wishes are pouring in for Dave Quinn, the founder and artistic director of this weekend鈥檚 Fort 91原创 Jazz & Arts Festival, as he recoups in his hospital bed.
Just days before the four-day 2025 festival was set to kickoff, Quinn learned he won鈥檛 be making it to his own event.
While doctors are clear he will not be out of hospital soon, and not in time for the festival, Quinn was still working from his hospital bed to wrap up last minute arrangements for the eighth annual event.
Festival co-founder and partner Karen Zukas shared a picture of Quinn on the phone in hospital.
鈥淗e鈥檚 still trying to do festival work from his hospital bed. That鈥檚 dedication,鈥� said Zukas.
鈥淐an鈥檛 keep him down. Doing festival business after emergency surgery,鈥� she added, joking that medications helped.
As Zukas reported on Facebook, Quinn suffered a severe septic infection in his artificial knee that spread into his blood stream and required emergency surgery earlier this week.
He鈥檒l be on what she described as aggressive antibiotics for three months, hoping the treatment can address the infection.
Reiterating that it was very unlikely he鈥檇 be at the festival, Zukas said he was grateful and moved by all the well wishes he鈥檚 been receiving.
鈥淒isappointing to say the last, after a year of planning. But health first,鈥� she added, noting how much he had enjoyed putting together the program for this year鈥檚 festivities.
鈥淗e hopes you enjoy the festival, if you鈥檙e going.鈥�
The annual Fort 91原创 Jazz & Arts Festival returns this weekend with four days of music, art, and community celebration in the heart of historic Fort 91原创.
The festival kicks off today, (Thursday, July 24) and runs through Sunday, July 27, featuring three nights of ticketed concerts and two full days of free outdoor performances, visual art, Indigenous showcases, workshops, and family fun.
Highlights include a ticketed Big Band matinee and swing dance concert with the Vancouver Legacy Jazz Orchestra and Tom Arntzen on Thursday.
On Friday, there鈥檚 the ticketed Cool Blues Show with six Canadian blues headliners and the Angry Otter Whisky Tasting Lounge, followed by another ticketed event, the Aretha Franklin Tribute with the Siobhan Walsh Group, on Saturday.
Free for the public on Saturday and Sunday is the large outdoor festival.
It kicks off Saturday morning, at 9:30 a.m., with the Mardis Gras-style strolling parade, and then features 40-plus live performances across three stages, live painting, youth showcase, art market, Indigenous activities, and food trucks.
It runs throughout the village of Fort 91原创, the main hubs include Fort 91原创 Community Hall, CNR Station Gardens, and the Mary Avenue and Glover Road intersection.
For more information and scheduling details, people can visit .
