The next two weeks may be full of finals, papers and all-nighters, but there’s a much beloved light at the end of the tunnel for music lovers. April 27 will mark the first day of the 34th edition of SunFest, held annually in downtown West Palm Beach.
As the hot summer months roll in, the summer festivals follow suit. (We know you’re still bitter after seeing all those Okeechobee posts on Instagram.)
As the state’s largest waterfront music and art festival, the five day fest is somewhat of a rite of passage as a South Floridian. You have to do it once, but you probably couldn’t help but go every year after.
Founded in 1982, SunFest has always been a local favorite and quickly became a hub for music lovers, attracting over 175,000 visitors each year. My grandparents went to the first few editions of the festival decades ago and I’ve gone to the last few. So no worries about a rookie set up, they’ve worked out all the quirks by now.
With names like Alabama Shakes, Steve Aoki, Slightly Stoopid, Train, Duran Duran, Meghan Trainor, Jason Derulo, Bastille and the Roots, the lineup boasts a little bit of everything. Whether you want to peruse the art across the water while listening to some reggae, sway to some soul, or get entranced with some electronic, this festival has both big names from every genre as well as some local talent.
The location is likely the festival’s biggest focal point. The urban, summery scene of waterfront West Palm Beach still makes a local swoon. The surrounding downtown area provides a quick break from the summer heat, with countless bars and restaurants within walking distance. There’s few better ways to introduce you to the area than with your favorite tunes as the soundtrack.
Although downtown West Palm doesn’t lend itself to pitching a tent for the duration of the festival, the trio of waterside stages allow for a more urban change of scenery while you unwind by the water and bask in the sun.
One-day passes are priced at $40, two-day passes at $60 and five-day passes at $80. And on the off chance that good music by the coast didn’t sell you, the festival is known for its positive boost to the local economy and partners with local charities to provide fundraising efforts. Now you can’t even feel guilty about splurging, right?
So, to the music lover: give yourself something to look forward to and add another festival to that to-do list.
To buy tickets for SunFest, click here.
To view the full line-up, click here.
