SunFest 2023: Guide to tickets, transportation and who’s playing when

SunFest returns to West Palm Beach after 3-year pause | PHOTOS

What you’ll notice immediately about SunFest 2023 is that it is trimmer — three days instead of four, two stages instead of three — and seems to have adopted a more youthful, pop-music bearing, with top-billed acts including The Chainsmokers, The Killers and A Boogie wit da Hoodie.

This may be inevitable when you take the official turn into middle age, with SunFest making its 40th appearance in downtown West Palm Beach this weekend. But it’s also a sign of the times.

Across the country, the costs of putting on music festivals have risen dramatically in the past year, from band fees to hiring security guards to renting porta-potties.

Paul Jamieson, executive director nonprofit SunFest of Palm Beach County, said the organization decided to cut costs and put the savings into the budget for music. Even with fewer headliners required for one less day and one less stage, SunFest is paying 15% more on music than it did in 2022, he said.

Along with fewer musical acts, SunFest’s art exhibits, 5K race and nightly fireworks displays are on hold for this year. Fear not, the floating bars will return.

In a statement, Jamieson said fan feedback in 2022 (“satisfaction ratings last year were the highest we have ever seen”) informed the decision by SunFest to put its money where the music is.

“We heard loud and clear that fans come to the waterfront to hear good music and reunite with old friends,” Jamieson said.

Satisfaction remains high in the VIP at SunFest, where some levels of tickets are sold out.

Other big names performing at SunFest from Friday through Sunday will be coffeehouse poet Jack Johnson, reggae favorite Ziggy Marley and surefire party-starters Flo Rida, 311, Dropkick Murphys and All Time Low.

Keep reading for the day-by-day music schedule and information on tickets, transportation and parking.

WHEN/WHERE

SunFest is set for 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday in downtown West Palm Beach, along waterfront Flagler Drive between Banyan Boulevard and Lakeview Avenue. For map or ride-share purposes, enter 101 S. Clematis St., West Palm Beach.

PERFORMERS

Performances take place on the Ford Stage in the middle of the festival site and the Ideal Nutrition Stage on the north side. Single-day passes must be purchased for specific days and can only be used on the designated day. Here is the current performance lineup:

Friday: Soulpax (5:45-6:15 p.m.), East Harbor (6:30-7 p.m.), The Nameless (6:45-7:15 p.m.), PLS&TY (7:30-8 p.m.), LAYA (7:45-8:15 p.m.), Anabel Englund (8:30-9:15 p.m.), Flo Rida (8:45-10 p.m.), The Chainsmokers (9:45-11 p.m.).

Saturday: Prato (1:15-1:45 p.m.), Nostaljah (2-2:30 p.m.), ARDN (2:15-2:45 p.m.), ALO (3-4 p.m.), Surfaces (3:15-4:15 p.m.), Dropkick Murphys (4:30-5:45 p.m.), GVIN (5-5:30 p.m.), RazzaMoore (6-6:30 p.m.), Allegra Miles (6:45-7:15 p.m.), Fedd the God (7-7:45p.m.), The Hip Abduction (7:45-8:45 p.m.), A Boogie wit da Hoodie (8:15-9:30 p.m.), Jack Johnson (9:30-11 p.m.).

Sunday: Leave it to Us (12:30-1 p.m.), Charlotte Sands (1:30-2:15 p.m.), Gatlin (2-3 p.m.), All Time Low (2:45-4 p.m.), Ziggy Marley (3:30-5 p.m.), Vibes Farm (5-5:30 p.m.), Drum & Company (6-6:30 p.m.), Surfer Girl (6-6:45 p.m.), Sunflower Bean (7-8 p.m.), 311 (7:15-8:30 p.m.), The Killers (8:30-10 p.m.).

TICKETS

Tickets are available in advance at SunFest.com, by phone from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at 800-786-3378 (800-SUNFEST) and at the gate.

SunFest also is among more than two dozen cultural events with discounted tickets available from the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County and its MOSAIC (Month of Shows, Art, Ideas and Culture) promotion in May. Through Thursday, May 4, you’ll find up to 30 percent off general-admission and VIP SunFest tickets at PalmBeachCulture.com/mosaic.

General admission: A single-day pass costs $90 for general admission, $50 for guests age 6 to 12, and $60 for age 65 and older (must purchase at gate). Kids age 5 and younger accompanied by an adult get in free. These tickets are good only for entry on the specific day chosen at time of purchase. Three-day GA passes cost $170, or $95 for age 6-12. Re-entry is permitted at SunFest.

VIP admission: For a more elevated experience, VIP amenities can be purchased for the individual stages and for both stages, as well as popular upfront sections known as The Stand. Visit SunFest.com/VIP-packages.

The Stand is a SunFest signature, offering all fans the opportunity for a reserved, stagefront, standing-room view of individual performances at the two main stages. These tickets are an add-on to your SunFest admission and must be purchased separately, with prices varying by act, from $20+ to $55+. The Stand for The Killers at the Ford Stage is sold out. Visit SunFest.com/the-stand.

VIP Cove passes include festival admission, a private waterfront party area with air-conditioned restrooms and a direct view of the Ford Stage, as well as two complimentary drinks, drink discounts and unlimited soda and water. Three-day passes to the Cove ($550) are sold out, with a limited number of single-day passes priced at $175 Friday and $239 for Saturday or Sunday.

VIP Palm passes are similar to the Cove, without the waterfront view. These passes include festival admission, private party area, air-conditioned restrooms and a view of the Ideal Nutrition Stage, plus a daily food menu (brunch on Sunday), two complimentary drinks, drink discounts and unlimited soda and water. Three-day passes to the Palm area cost $265 (also sold out), with single-day access for $150 on Friday, $175 on Saturday or Sunday.

Super VIP Gold Pass is an all-inclusive package with admission to both the VIP Cove and Palm areas, The Stand at both stages, plus valet parking and access to a lounge and the new Gold Pass viewing platform at the Ford Stage. A three-day Gold Pass (the only option) costs $3,400 for two people. A Silver Pass was offered in single-day and three-day options, but all sold out.

TRANSPORTATION

Parking: There is dedicated SunFest parking downtown at two garages and four parking lots with advance, prepaid prices starting at $12 for one day and $30 for three days. The Judicial Center Garage (505 Banyan Blvd.), Governmental Center Garage (294 N. Dixie Highway) and Fourth Street lot (316 Fourth St.) offer both single-day and three-day parking. The Chamber of the Palm Beaches lot (401 N. Flagler Drive), E.R. Bradley’s lot (140 S. Narcissus Ave.) and the Fountain lot (114 S. Narcissus Ave.) are only for single-day parking.

Trains: You can take the Brightline from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, as well as new stations in Aventura and Boca Raton, to the downtown West Palm Beach station just south of Clematis Street, a three-block walk to SunFest. Late-night trains will depart at 11:36 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10:36 p.m. Sunday. Ticket prices vary by distance and time of day. Visit GoBrightline.com.

With more numerous stations across three counties, Tri-Rail may be a more convenient option. The Tri-Rail station in West Palm Beach is at the intersection of Clematis Street and South Tamarind Avenue, just under a mile from SunFest. Visit Tri-Rail.com.

Bicycle: You can bring bicycles on Brightline and Tri-Rail trains, and SunFest offers free, monitored bike parking at the festival site.

Shuttles: There is free service on the Downtown West Palm Beach Trolley, the on-demand, electric Circuit Shuttle, and the Rose Trolley electric carts. For routes and other information, visit SunFest.com/trolleys-trains-buses.

Boat shuttle: Boaters anchored in the Intracoastal Waterway will have access to shuttle service, which costs $5 round-trip. Hail a shuttle via Towboat U.S. on VHF Ch. 10.

WHAT TO BRING

You can enter with a bag/backpack that is no larger than 12-by-12-by-6 inches. Other approved items include an empty, refillable water bottle or container (no glass), a collapsible lawn chair, blankets, umbrella (you may be asked to lower it if it obstructs the view in concert areas), nonprofessional camera, wheelchair/medical scooter, stroller, food for infants or those with medical conditions (no glass), service animals.

WHAT NOT TO BRING

Coolers, outside food or beverages (including water), glass containers, selfie sticks, pets, drones, professional cameras, recording devices, skates, scooters, wagons, skateboards, bicycles, glow and laser products, costume masks, weapons. For a full list, visit SunFest.com/allowed.