In 1986, a group of Northeast Ohio jazz fans led by Jean and Paul Huling formed a club called EARLYJAS (The Earlville Association of Ragtime Lovers Yearning for Jazz Advancement and Socialization). For well over 20 years, EARLYJAS presented a very successful and popular Fall Dixieland Jazz Festival in Strongsville, Ohio. Unfortunately, due to a lack of volunteers and the potential for major financial losses, their Board of Trustees voted to discontinue the Fall Festival after 2011.



EARLYJAS accomplished a great deal in the cause of presenting traditional Dixieland jazz over the previous 25 years, and made considerable contributions to the Summit County Kidney Foundation. Today the club is financially stronger than ever, and they continue to host monthly meetings, concerts, and jam sessions. But after 25 years, they decided to no longer produce the Strongsville festival.



Learning of this decision, “Ragtime Rick” Grafing, piano player with the Cakewalkin’ Jass Band and leader of The Chefs of Dixieland, agreed to produce a new festival to replace the one in Strongsville, to be held in Toledo. It is known as the GRUGELFEST, a tribute and memorial to EARLYJAS member Ralph Grugel, leader of the Eagle Jazz Band, who died in 2005. Ralph Grugel was a major force in Cleveland’s Dixieland Jazz community.



GRUGELFEST features 5 great bands over 3 days in 2 venues for each session, plus additional performances by world-class piano players, small groups, and jam sessions. From 2012 to 2016 it was held at the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in downtown Toledo; in 2017 the festival moved to the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg. Special room rates are offered for the weekend.