SunFest 2023 is on. Everything you need to know about the festival
SunFest's multi-day, multi-stage waterfront musical festival in downtown West Palm Beach has begun.
As The Palm Beach Post's Chris Persaud explained in an in-depth story, SunFest, like other outdoor festivals, has struggled financially recently and has had to adjust and adapt to different conditions.
SunFest lost more than $1 million on each of its last three festivals. To stop the financial bleeding, the festival this year shrank to three days, cut unprofitable longtime traditions (like fireworks and art galleries) and booked acts that are more popular than usual, organizers say. The price of an advance one-day ticket without discounts has grown from $35 in 2017 to $70 this year.
But SunFest Executive Director Paul Jamieson does not blame rising ticket prices, fewer days or SunFest’s offering of musical acts for its dwindling audience.
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“Rain is the predominant theme,” he said.
So will it rain this year? Here's the forecast:
SunFest 2023: What's the weather forecast?
Sunday, May 7: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. There's a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. It'll be a bit breezy, with winds of 11 to 15 mph and gusts as high as 22 mph. At night, it'll be partly cloudy, with a low around 68 and little chance of showers. Winds will be 7 to 13 mph with gusts as high as 18 mph.
For subscribers: SunFest has been in the red $1M per festival for years. Ticket prices have doubled. Why?
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Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the big music festival:
SunFest 2023: How much are tickets?
Tickets are on sale now. Prices for people ages 13 and older currently are $170 for a three-day pass and $90 for a one-day pass. The pre-sale prices have expired. Single-day tickets can be bought for $75 and a three-day pass for $135.
Festivalgoers can buy advance tickets on SunFest’s website, www.sunfest.com/tickets, or by calling 1-800-786-3378 (SUNFEST). Those buying single-day tickets must specify the day they will attend when making their purchase.
Children under 5 get in free with an adult ticket and tickets for children aged 6-12 are $50 for a one-day pass and $95 for a three-day pass.
Who is at SunFest 2023? Here is the music lineup schedule:
Friday, May 5 schedule
Ford Stage
6:30-7 p.m.: East Harbor (alternative pop)
7:30-8 p.m.: PLS&TY (future bass, R&B, hip-hop)
8:30-9:15 p.m.: Anabel Englund (house, dance, pop rock)
9:45-11 p.m.: The Chainsmokers (pop, electropop, future bass)
Ideal Nutrition Stage
5:45-6:15 p.m.: Soulpax (R&B)
6:45-7:15 p.m.: The Nameless (urban, 90s R&B)
7:45-8:15 p.m.: LAYA (R&B)
8:45-10 p.m.: Flo Rida (hip-hop, rap)
Saturday, May 6 schedule
Ford Stage
2-2:30 p.m.: Nostaljah (reggae, R&B)
3-4 p.m.: ALO (pop, rock)
4:30-5:45 p.m.: Dropkick Murphys (punk rock, celtic punk, hardcore punk)
6:45-7:15 p.m.: Allegra Miles (indie pop, soulful pop)
7:45-8:45 p.m.: The Hip Abduction (alternative, indie)
9:30-11 p.m.: Jack Johnson (pop)
Ideal Nutrition Stage
1:15-1:45 p.m.: Prato (reggae, rock)
2:15-2:45 p.m.: ARDN (hip-hop, rap)
3:15-4:15 p.m.: Surfaces (jazz, soul, pop rock, hip-hop, reggae, calypso)
5-5:30 p.m.: Gvin (R&B, soul, pop, contemporary)
6-6:30 p.m.: RazzaMoore (rap)
7-7:45 p.m.: Fedd The God (hip-hop)
8:15-9:30 p.m.: A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie (hip-hop, rap, R&B)
Sunday, May 7 schedule
Ford Stage
2-3 p.m.: Gatlin (rock, folk)
3:30-5 p.m.: Ziggy Marley (reggae)
6-6:30 p.m.: Drum & Co. (indie, folk-hop)
7-8 p.m.: Sunflower Bean (alternative, indie, glam rock)
8:30-10 p.m.: The Killers (alternative rock, indie rock, new wave)
Ideal Nutrition Stage
12:30-1 p.m.: Leave It To Us (pop, punk)
1:30-2:15 p.m.: Charlotte Sands (hip-hop, rap)
2:45-4 p.m.: All Time Low (pop punk, pop rock, alternative rock)
5-5:30 p.m.: Vibes Farm (reggae, punk)
6-6:45 p.m.: Surfer Girl (pop, reggae)
7:15-8:30 p.m.: 311 (alternative rock, rap rock, reggae rock)
SunFest 2023: What you can bring (and what you can't bring)
YES, ALLOWED
Small bags/backpacks no larger than 12” x 12” x 6”
Non-glass, empty, refillable water bottles, cups, or containers
Food for infants or those with medical conditions in non-glass containers
Service animals for patrons with disabilities
Single collapsible lawn chairs
Blankets
Umbrellas may be brought in, but you may be asked to put them down in concert areas to allow all guests access to stage viewing.
Non-professional cameras (no removable lens)
Wheelchairs/medical scooters
Strollers
Hydration packs – Must be empty and subject to search
NOT ALLOWED
Coolers
Outside food or beverage including water, glass bottles or glass containers
Selfie sticks
Pets
Audio recording devices
Frisbees, sports balls or water guns
Roller skates, scooters, skateboards, bicycles, in-line skates
Professional still or video cameras
Glow products or laser products
Costume masks,
Weapons, knives, firearms or explosives
SunFest 2023: West Palm Beach downtown road closures
9 a.m., Thursday, April 27 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 10
Flagler Drive Closed between Banyan Blvd. and Lakeview Ave.
North Clematis Street between Lantana Avenue and Flagler Drive
Evernia Street between Narcissus Avenue and Flagler Drive
Limited access – No access to Flagler Drive
S. Clematis Street between Narcissus Avenue and Flagler Drive
Datura Street between Narcissus Avenue and Flagler Drive
Fern Street between Olive Avenue and Flagler Drive
9 a.m., Wednesday, May 3 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 10
Southbound Flagler Drive between 3rd Street and Banyan Blvd.
SunFest 2023: Parking information
One-day parking
Judicial Center Garage, 505 Banyan Blvd, $12
4th Street Surface Lot, 316 4th Street, $12
Governmental Center Garage, 294 N. Dixie Highway, $15
Chamber of the Palm Beaches Lot, 401 North Flagler Drive, $20
Bradley’s Lot, 140 S Narcissus Ave., $50
Fountain Lot, 114 S Narcissus Ave., $50
Three-day parking
Judicial Center Garage, 505 Banyan Blvd, $30-$40
4th Street Surface Lot, 316 4th Street, $30-$40
Governmental Center Garage, 294 N. Dixie Highway, $30-$40
No on-street parking
Friday, May 5 to Sunday, May 7
Portion of the 200 block of Datura Street (handicapped parking)
Portion of 300 block of Datura Street (handicapped parking)
If you go to SunFest 2023:
Where: SunFest takes place along the Intracoastal Waterway in downtown West Palm Beach. The festival grounds are on Flagler Drive in between Banyan Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue. Approximate address: 101 S. Clematis St., West Palm Beach.
When: Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7, 2023
Friday: 5 to 11 p.m.
Saturday: Noon to 11 p.m.
Sunday: Noon to 9 p.m.
Information: Sunfest.com.
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Chris Persaud and Wayne Washington contributed to this report.
James Coleman is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: SunFest 2023 in West Palm: Schedule, lineup, tickets, forecast, 311
