SunFest up and running today
50 acts are slated to perform over 4-day event across 3 stages.
WEST PALM BEACH — The city is girding for four days of waterfront festivities and music as SunFest starts on a Thursday this year.
This year’s visitors can expect a few changes, not least of which is the fact there was no Wednesday music, but organizers say they’ll have just as many acts as ever, packed into today through
Sunday.
Among the performers — Mr. 305 Worldwide Armando Christian Perez (aka Pitbull), rap star legend Ice Cube, Zedd, Living Colour, Third Eye Blind, Billy Idol, Logic and Grammy and Golden Globe nominated Nick Jonas.
Organizers decided against starting the event Wednesday because of costs. According to SunFest Executive Director Paul Jamieson, entertainment costs have risen 132 percent since 2010, at least in part because of the number of competing festivals nationally and in South Florida. During that time admissions prices have risen 32 percent, he said.
The number of days has varied over the years, so this isn’t the first time it’s been a four-day event. But with three stages all four days, just as many acts will perform, 50, as at past SunFests, he said. Gates open at 5 p.m. today.
Parking and driving restrictions already are in effect, as concert stages are assembled and supplies trucked in. Side streets leading to the festival grounds are fenced off and marked with “Local traffic only” signs. You can still get into Bradley’s Saloon for lunch or dinner but not without navigating around the set-up zone.
Another way to make the experience easier will be to download the SunFest parking app to help reserve parking spaces and pay for them in advance.
As always, keep your phones tucked away carefully, to keep the nationwide epidemic of phone theft at bay. But there’s also a phone feature to look forward to this year: Sponsor Comcast is offering free Xfinity Mobile charging stations. They’ll be just south of the Datura Street main gate, and there’ll be another near the JetBlue stage across from Trinity Place. The locations are marked on the map given to people entering the festival grounds.
Fans can expect nice weather — high temps hovering around 80 all four days — with Sunday the big question mark as rain chances increase to about 50 percent on the final day.
Meteorologists have been watching for potential tropical development from the system near the Bahamas.
“Right now, it doesn’t look like a washout,” said Weather Underground co-founder Jeff Masters about the weekend weather. “It will be more hit and miss with periods where there could be a few hours of rain showers.”
Masters said the potential
Flagler Drive will be closed through Wednesday between Banyan Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue. Narcissus Avenue between Evernia and Datura streets; and North Clematis between Lantana Avenue and Flagler Drive also are closed; so are Evernia between Narcissus and Flagler.
for a sub tropical depression or depression forming by Saturday is about 10 percent. The National Hurricane Center has not identified any areas of concern.
“If this were June, they would probably start tracking it, but the climatology is really against something forming this early,” said Masters about the NHC.
SunFest goes on rain or shine. No refunds or ticket exchanges are offered because of bad weather. Umbrellas, even beach umbrellas, are allowed in the venue.
Road closures have begun around the waterfront. Flagler Drive will be closed through Wednesday between Banyan Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue. Narcissus Avenue between Evernia and Datura streets; and North Clematis between Lantana Avenue and Flagler Drive also are closed; so are Evernia between Narcissus and Flagler.
On-street parking will be limited, and the city docks also will be closed during the same period.