SunFest is it really worth it?

It is that time of year again, when downtown West Palm Beach is filled to its capacity with screaming children running rampant and drunk adults resting in a floating bar. Yes, it is time for SunFest.

This year is SunFest’s 25th annual Music, Art and Waterfront Festival, which is normally held the first weekend of every May. The festival includes concerts, art vendors, bars, children’s activities, a parade, fireworks and much more. But every year the same issues come up: Where are we going to park? How early do we have to get to the stages to see a certain performer? Will it rain? But, the most important question being, is it really worth it to attend?

For the most part, parking is always a challenge. SunFest has stated on their website that there are over 11,000 parking spaces. Here’s the catch, in order to park remotely close to the event you must dish out anywhere from $10-$30 just to park your car. If you feel like walking (you know, to save money), you must find a parking spot, probably a mile or two from any of entry gates. Then walk to a place where there is a shuttle, wait for the shuttle (for who knows how long), then arrive at the overly crowded gate just to wait in a line to purchase a ticket.

Speaking of tickets, you can buy tickets in advance, which is probably the best idea. One, because it is cheaper and second, because you wont have to wait in a line when you arrive to the event. The tickets don’t come cheap, either. Just to set foot into the event it costs $23 (which, by the way, is non refundable…even in the event that it rains). If you would like to attend all four days, you get a break and the ticket only costs $45. Four days of SunFest, that’s one bad sunburn and hangover.

If you plan on seeing one of the main acts on stage, it’s not that easy. SunFest has come up with the idea of charging its guests more money to let them sit in a chair. For every main act on the WaMu stage, you must spend an additional $9-$15 to have a seat and to be able to see the artists performing.

One of the main acts on this stage will be popular rapper Ludacris. The Palm Beach Post noted that SunFest promises that Ludacris will keep his music clean. The Post continues to add that this could have been brought on by Don Imus and all of the ranting going on about racist antics.

This may be a family event after all, but people have a choice to see certain performers. One of the main reasons why people attend SunFest is because of the concerts. People are going to attend knowing what bands are playing and wanting to see a great show by that artist - not an edited show, that is controlling someone’s freedom of speech. If someone plans to see Ludacris, then they want to hear his songs the way they were made, not a clean version. Why ask an artist to play at this event if they will have to bleep and cut parts out of every song?

Not to mention the most prevalent part of the event, there will be over 160 artists lounging in the hot sun, enticing people to take a peak at their work. There are also tours available for those interested. In the past couple of years that I attended SunFest I’ve noticed that people just walk by the art, they never really stop and look. Maybe people never caught on to the fact it is a Music, Art and Waterfront festival: Keyword: art.

Let’s recap.

For this event you have to spend a lot of money, walk long distances, and once you are there, see musical artists who have to be censored.

However, this is an event that over 275,00 people attend annually.


There are ways of saving a few bucks on tickets. Save $5 if you pick up a coupon at the participating locations below.

May 5th- Tropical Smoothie
May 6th- Pollo Tropical

Here’s a list of the main acts performing on the WaMu stage this year:

Thursday, May 3
Ludacris (Hip Hop) 5:30 p.m.
George Thorogood (Classic Rock/Blues)

Friday, May 4
Sean Paul (Reggae/Hip Hop/Pop)
Jonny Lang (Blues/Rock)
Daughty (Alternative Rock)

Saturday, May 5
Augustana (Rock)
Mat Kearny (Pop)
Ne-Yo (Hip Hop/R&B/Soul)
Stephen Stills (Rock)
Delbert McClinton(Americana Country/Rock)
Todd Rundgren (Classic Rock)

Sunday, May 6
Cowboy Troy and Big & Rich (Country)
Huey Lewis and the News (Pop Rock)
Fire Works at 9pm

For complete list of entertainers visit, http://www.sunfest.com