Musical acts draw thousands to South Florida’s SunFest
Thousands of people sporting everything from SunFest beads to sombreros to babies on their hips flooded downtown West Palm Beach on Saturday for the fourth day of this year’s SunFest.
They danced, walked, drank and ate their way down streets lined with white vendor tents as an eclectic mix of music blasted from all directions. Fans hula-hooped to reggae music at one stage while others jammed to rock music and bobbled a psychedelic beach ball above their heads at another stage.
The fifth and final day of the music festival will be today.
“I’m dedicated,” said Ronnie Maman, 60, of Palm Beach, who said she has attended SunFest since its inception in 1982. “I love the crowds.”
Maman, with SunFest beads draped around her neck, said for many of those years, she attended the event by herself. It’s the musical acts, she said, that keep her coming back year after year.
“I just enjoy coming and listening to the music even if I don’t know the bands,” she said. “I’ve seen some very good acts here.”
Out of the nearly 60 acts performing this year on three stages, Maman was most excited to see Hozier perform Saturday night with her 19-year-old niece by her side.
Arguably as diverse as the music was the food — with options ranging from Asian noodles to tacos to meatloaf muffins.
Dominic Bonadeo, 23, traveled to SunFest from Stuart. He said it’s the stuffed pineapples that have brought him back four years in a
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“It’s a little slice of heaven,” Bonadeo said in between bites. “It’s very worthwhile.”
Melissa Johnson, 34, started attending SunFest five years ago for the music and drinks. This year, she brought her children, ages 3 and 1, to enjoy the outdoors.
“It’s just something to do with the kids,” she said. “The weather is amazing today. It could not be more perfect for SunFest.”
Last year’s event drew 175,000 people, and although SunFest has not done a head count for this year, “the crowd has been strong,” SunFest publicist Melissa Sullivan said. “It’s been going so smoothly,” she said.
Maman, who bought a five-day pass this year, said she’ll be back again today, the final day, to see the Pixies perform. “I’ll be here till the bitter end,” she said. Acts joining the Pixies in wrapping up the festival today will include Boston, Fall Out Boy and Awolnation. The first set starts at noon, and a finale fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m.
Tickets cost $40 for a single day and can be purchased online at SunFest.com or at the gate. emiller@tribpub.com, 954-356-4544 or Twitter @EmilyBethMiller