Thanksgiving is a great time of the year.

Dinner with family and friends.

College and pro football on TV.

Black Friday holiday shopping, including the incredible "Midnight Madness" event at VF Outlet in Reading.

But for those of us involved with the annual Berks Jazz Fest, it also marks the beginning of the four-month countdown to the festival launch on Friday, March 19, 2010.

The clock starts ticking two days after Thanksgiving -- Saturday, Nov. 28 -- when tickets for "Jazz Circle" members go on sale at 10 a.m.

The following day, the lineup/schedule is officially announced in the Sunday Reading Eagle and at www.berksjazzfest.com

Tickets for general public go on sale Saturday, Dec. 5, at 10 a.m.

When you announce the lineup and start selling tickets, there is no turning back. The show is on.

The BJF committee is very excited about the 2010 lineup -- and the yet-to-be-announced special events being planned for the milestone 20th annual festival.

In addition to the 10-day fest, a full schedule of "preview" events are being planned.

That schedule will be announced during the "Remembering Grover Washington Jr." holiday concert set for Friday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Miller Center for the Arts, featuring Gerald Veasley and Eric Darius.

You do not want to miss the holiday concert. It's going to be a great night of music honoring a legendary musician on the 10th anniversary of his passing.

So, enjoy the holiday weekend and start making your plans for the 20th annual VF Outlet Berks Jazz Fest.