One Europe's biggest jazz festivals,  the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival will kick off in spectacular ‘flare’ with a red hot ‘Blaze of Jazz Parade’ through the streets of Cork City on Friday October 25th.

This family-friendly parade will mix red-hot jazz bands with fiery Cork characters who will dance through the city streets in a dramatic musical procession full of flaming antics.

Kicking off at 7pm, the sensational fire-breathing, skeleton-led parade, replete with some of Ireland and Europe’s finest marching bands, will lift spirits ahead of Halloween and light fires in the bellies and hearts of locals and visitors alike for the festival weekend ahead, as it’s blaze and burning energy spread through the streets of Cork.

The sizzling theatrical musical march will start at Grand Parade, go down Oliver Plunkett Street, up Maylor Street, cross over St Patrick’s St and will finish at Emmet Place.

This Blaze of Jazz Parade kicks off a phenomenal line up of hot international acts for the weekend including giants of jazz Kurt Elling, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Spyro Gyra, Fred Hersch Trio and Dr Linley Hamilton.

Satisfy your musical appetite with a sound trail that spans over 40 Cork venues. With music as diverse as the venues, you’ll get everything from ska to swing, jazz to brass.

Music takes you places and this trail is no different, leading you to every corner of a city alive with music. Check out the line-up below and then resign to the flow of the festival.

The famous Festival Club at the Metropole Hotel is celebrating its 41st edition and will once again play host to a top range of diverse artists and music on several stages throughout the Jazz Festival weekend.

Fans of swing, funk, groove, blues and dixieland will be well catered for, with an exciting mix of Irish and international acts.