It is one of downtown’s Big Three soirées that some people claim is better than Street Scene and Mardis Gras.

The annual Jazz Festival, presented by Smooth Jazz 98.1 and Sycuan Casino and Resort, will celebrate its 28th anniversary from 1:00 to 10:00 p.m., this Saturday, May 24, along several blocks of the Gaslamp Quarter. More than 15 bars, restaurants and clubs will participate and nearly 12,000 people are expected to attend.

The event is lauded by festival-goers because of the serious attention it pays to local and national jazz musicians. Two outdoor stages, plus many smaller ones found inside the various restaurants and bars serve as their venues.

This year’s headline performers include Bobby Caldwell, George Duke, Poncho Sanchez, Euge Groove and Mindi Abair — all of whom will appear on the festival’s main stage at Fourth Avenue near J Street. Grammy-nominated jazz artist Dave Koz will emcee.

According to Mark Gorman of North Park, who attended last year with his partner Steve, “The crowds are manageable and the atmosphere is a lot of fun without being ridiculously boisterous.”

Julie Scheessele, sales manager for the Horton Grand Hotel, agrees: “The festival keeps getting better and better every year. I personally like it more than Street Scene.”

In addition to live music, the Horton Grand will serve up crawfish éttouffée, gumbo and jambalaya — and feature several bars, including one in its popular New Orleans-style courtyard.

Restaurants contained within the festival, such as Sevilla, Croce’s, Chive, The Latin Room, Dublin Square, Rock Bottom Brewery, Aubergine and more, will present their regular menu fare plus other tailored foods for the entire duration of the event.

Tony Pistillo of Sevilla says, “It’s the biggest day of the year for us — bigger than New Year’s Eve.” Patrons can expect to find seafood paella, dozens of tantalizing tapas and plenty of Sangria Royale, a house specialty that reveals a slight hint of cinnamon. Entertainment at Sevilla will include the Latin group NovaMenco, plus musician David Maldonado.

Croce’s kitchen will operate from 8:30 a.m. to midnight and feature live bands all day, until 2:00 a.m. And a performance by A.J. Croce, the son of late recording artist, Jim Croce, will take place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the restaurant’s jazz bar.

At Chive, assorted quesadillas, pasta, burgers and Jello shots will be in the offing. “We’re adapting our menu that day with foods that people can easily walk around with,” says General Manager Michelle Kveen. The shots and other alcohol, however, are not permitted on the streets, although an outdoor beer garden will be available at Fourth and Island streets.

“The festival is unique because there are no food vendors. It instead brings traffic to the restaurants and bars, which offer meals earlier and later than they normally would,” says Publicist William Lopez, of Alternative Marketing Strategies.

Founded by KIFM, the festival’s roots date back to 1983, when it was held in a Pacific Beach bar and organized by Art Good, who pioneered the radio station’s smooth jazz format. As the event grew in popularity, it bounced around to numerous venues such as SeaWorld, Humphrey’s and the Sheraton Harbor Island, until finding a suitable home within the Gaslamp in 1994.

Admission is $35. Tickets can be purchased at the main gate (at Fifth and Island) or online at: www.kifm.com. For more information, call (619) 297-3698.