Founded in 1982, SunFest is Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival.
Held annually in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida the first week in May,
SunFest attracts more than 280,000 visitors.
Article, Photos and Videos, Evan & Leona Rapoport
[box_light]My Third Year Covering The Event[/box_light]
This was my third year covering the event for IPA and my first year for IMPress and I knew I had to be on top of my game to get the images I wanted. Not only shots that would help my readers understand the excitement generated by the thousands that attended this event, but photos that would illustrate the energy being generated by some of the hottest musical performers from current rock to the classic groups. Although the crowd seemed to be made up of today’s generation, you can see in some of my photos, that there were plenty of fans from all age groups there as well. Everyone was singing and dancing to the sounds of these great artists.
[box_light]The Musical Performers[/box_light]
SunFest is Florida’s largest music, art and waterfront festival. This year was their 30th Anniversary and it was truly special with many national acts including Counting Crows, Creed, Pitbull, The Fray, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Passion Pit, Paul Rodgers, Third Eye Blind, Girl Talk, Foreigner, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Herbie Hancock, Matisyahu, Coheed & Cambria, All American Rejects, NEEDTOBREATHE, SOJA, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, Fab Four and much more.
[box_light]5 Days And So Much To Do[/box_light]
Unfortunately it was not possible to cover the full five day event, so what you will see in our video is just a taste of some of the acts and the excitement at this years event. Not only did we hear some of the top musical acts but we heard from some of the hot newcomers to the music scene too. Of course the electricity that was generated by the thousands of young and not so young attendees made this a truly spectacular event. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit some of the sponsoring companies booths and receive free gifts. I especially liked the beautiful Hawaiian Tropic girls manning their booth. For those of us that spent days at the festival the sun could be brutal, but once again our Hawaiian Tropic girls came to the rescue. I was told they distributed over 3,000 samples of their sun tan lotion to help keep some of the attendees safe from the harmful rays of the sun. There were lots to do with so many local and national companies manning booths and so much diversity in the food being offered to the hungry attendees. Clematis Street was buzzing with activity and the many restaurants and eateries were packed.
[box_light]People Traveled From Afar To Attend[/box_light]
I have attended and written about previous SunFest’s, but somehow this one seemed to have a larger and more appreciative crowd then past events. Might have been the great line-up of talent with some great up-and-comers or possibly the beautiful but seasonally warm weather and the great planning by the SunFest’s 30th Anniversary team. It was a glorious five day event in the heart of Clematis Street one of the older but revitalized areas in West Palm. Many attendees where locals but many others I met had travelled from as far north as Canada so they could simply enjoy what some used to call a “happening”. Woodstock has long been forgotten but these music festivals have taken its place. A groupie can follow their favorite musical act from state to state like some people I met at SunFest.
Paul Jamieson, executive director of SunFest was quoted a saying that “SunFest is a music experience of value, diversity, location and quality like no other available in the country.” I would agree with him, this truly was an incredible experience and I am looking forward to covering the 2013, I wonder however if they will be able to top this years…we will see.
To find out more about this event, visit the SunFest’s Press Release published on our site.
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