sunfest >>> west palm beach fl

No Doubt about it SunFest rocked Bad to the Bone!
The 20th Anniversary was a crowd pleaser.

Photo & photo ilustration by: Herbie Martin

West Palm Beach -- Over 320,000 people attended the 5 day SunFest in West Palm Beach. The art, music festival takes place along Flagler Drive, on the waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach.

The weather was just perfect and the performances rocked by some of the yesterday's and today's top musical acts. The festival drew the second largest attendance in their history. Only the '91 version of SunFest beat this years effort. SunFest, is Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival. This year they celebrated their 20th edition.

SunFest has a bit of everything for everyone. There are all kinds of arts and crafts from some of the most renowned artists. The work is there for you to see and buy as well. The kids have a whole section devoted to them including games and shows specifically designed for the the little ones. The not so little ones can enjoy the party tents where everyone is invited to mingle.

The food is totally awesome too. There is a plethora of quality choices for you to choose from. The SunFest people have many gastronomic offerings including festival favorites such as hot dogs, turkey legs and pop corn to more exotic and ethnic dishes, most at reasonable prices.

About 35,000 people turned out for the Cingular Wireless Opening Night 20th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, May 1, tying the SunFest attendance record for opening night set 2 years ago.

This years performances included SunFest veteran Bonnie Raitt,the superfreak himself, Rick James and 60's super band WAR as well as Key West-style street entertainers at the new SunFest Sunset Celebration. Both Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3 set SunFest attendance records with 35,000 and 90,000 people respectively.

Photo by: Patrick Ward

Thursday's crowd danced to Gwen Stefani and her band No Doubt and rocked to the sounds of George Thorogood. Friday's entertainment belonged to rap super star Ja Rule, the boy band O-Town, the classic tunes of the Doobie Brothers.

The Awesome pyrotechnics display from the Cingular Wireless Sony Ericsson Fireworks followed as well as the opening of the Fidelity Federal Juried Art Show and Visual Health Craft Marketplace.

On Saturday, May 4, over 90,000 people came out to see performances by the very hot Nickelback, the musical stylings of Edgar Winter,the latin grooves of Huey Dunbar,and jazzed out to Warren Hill and Israel Vibration & the Roots Radics Band.

On the last day of the festival, things kept on rolling with discos kings Earth, Wind & Fire,the music of Sense Field, my Sharona's The Knack and a smoking good time with reggae star Yellowman. The day drew over 75,000 strong.

Skateboarding demonstrations by Hurley Team Riders also thrilled the weekend crowds.

*SunFest is a nonprofit organization that operates on a break-even budget. If any proceeds are realized, the money goes toward improvements for the next festival, a rain contingency fund or SunFest's community outreach programs.