We’re just weeks away from what would have been SunFest weekend in downtown West Palm Beach.
- “We’re not trying to replace SunFest—we’re not SunFest. What we’re trying to do is fill that void of people enjoying music that weekend,” said Héctor Díaz.
- What sets the 561 Music Festival apart? The event will feature two stages, 20 local bands, and 15 artists. And most importantly, it will be free thanks to sponsorships.
But financial troubles and restructuring have left SunFest’s future in limbo.
So what’s next? We take a closer look at a new festival hoping to keep local music and arts alive.
It’s called the 561 Music Festival, and it will take place at the Meyer Amphitheatre on the same day and in the same place where SunFest has been held for decades.
The SunFest music festival has been active for 40 years, flooding the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront with days of art and headlining artists.
“We just enjoyed the music and the food. Shaggy was my favorite, Nelly was good too,” said Antoinette Wilks.
Wilks is a local who grew up attending SunFest, but now it’s just a memory after organizers announced a “significant shift,” which includes new dates and potentially a new location.
“How did you react when you heard it was shutting down?”
“I was sad and thinking, ‘Well, what are we doing now?’” Wilks said.
The answer might be the 561 Music Festival, taking place on May 3.
“We’re not trying to replace SunFest—we’re not SunFest. What we’re trying to do is fill that void of people enjoying music that weekend,” said Héctor Díaz.
He is a co-organizer of the 561 Music Festival and said this will be the festival’s fourth year.
It has been held at a smaller venue for the past three years but has grown to draw over 800 attendees.
When organizers learned SunFest had been canceled, the 561 Music Festival team decided it was time to take their event to the next level and booked the Meyer Amphitheatre.
Now, they’re expecting a crowd of between 1,500 and 3,000 people.
“Our band played at SunFest last year, and it was a dream come true, and we have a lot of respect for it,” said Ben Childs, co-organizer. “The fact that there was an opening this year allowed us to share last year’s experience with other bands.”
What sets the 561 Music Festival apart? The event will feature two stages, 20 local bands, and 15 artists. And most importantly, it will be free thanks to sponsorships.
“Our motto is, in a way, by the people here for the people here,” he said. “We’re just trying to offer something to the community—for all members of the community: the musicians and the locals.”
They said more than 150 bands applied to be part of the lineup of 20 bands, showing the amount of talent in Palm Beach County and the desire for exposure and the chance to perform for a local audience.
“Every national band you hear was a local band at some point, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Díaz said. “Foster an environment where these local musicians can showcase their work, be seen and heard, and have that sense of community.”
Organizers are still accepting applications from local artists who want to be part of the event.
They will also host free shows before and after the event to turn it into a weekend full of music across the area.
For more details on the festival lineup and sign-ups, click here.
Image: Wflx
