Our readers respond: Here are your favorite SunFest memories from the 40 festivals

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14-05-2025

SunFest, Palm Beach County's largest live music event, has come to an end, for now, after 40 festivals in a 42-year span. Interrupted only by the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival drew millions of people to the city's waterfront over the years, bringing some of music's biggest names to generations of fans gathered along the Intracoastal Waterway.
South Florida's oldest music festival grew over the decades in stature and ambition, evolving from a sleepy jazz-and-art festival into a three-stage, five-day event that drew A-list performers, hundreds of thousands of revelers and millions of dollars a year in revenue.
It has offered a combination of live music, art, delicious foods (stuffed tropical pineapple chicken was a yearly favorite), drinks and family-friendly entertainment.
In a November, SunFest's organizers announced the show would not go on in 2025, and possibly never again. Regardless, we'll never forget those years.
The Palm Beach Post received numerous e-mails from readers on those moments. Here are a few of them (some have been lightly edited):
Some of us remember the late 1940s, when the celebration was the Seminole Sun Dance, with a parade down Clematis and Seminole Indians arriving in Flagler Park, dressed in original and colorful styles. They erected chickees and lived there for the week, even cooking their meals in the sofkee pot over a star-fire. The public was fascinated because, in those days, most Seminoles still lived in remote camps, though some performed alligator wrestling at the Dania Reservation's tourist attraction. John and Jane Motlow were there, along with their nieces. All of this was long before it was turned into a music event. — Daniel Rousseau, Jupiter
My band (OPM) opened for REO Speedwagon in 2014. Loads of fun, great crowds (great weather) and I'll bet a successful event that year. That might be the LOUDEST my guitar has ever been, since we were primarily a bar band on the Treasure Coast. But to a guitar freak ... I REALLY DUG IT! — Edward Preman
I saw Grouplove in 2018 and they were kind of just hitting big so it was easy to get close to the stage. They were great and their version of Beastie Boys' Sabotage wailed. A great memory. — AJ Osman, Palm Beach
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I've attended dozens of SunFest musical performances over the years, but my time as a volunteer is where I had some of my most unique experiences. I had volunteered at SunFest a few times in the 1990's while I was in my 20's, mostly to meet new people and to feel like I was an integral part of this amazing annual tradition. It was during those days that I got a great feel for the incredible effort it takes to organize such a large entertainment and arts event. In 1996, I volunteered for the transportation department, a not so glamorous job that didn't give me much visibility to the event itself, but it did give the opportunity to potentially rub elbows with the performers. There was no guarantee you would transport a particular performer, so much of the day was spent waiting to see where help was needed. Then came the call for me to pick up The Rembrandts at their hotel for their late afternoon performance, so I hopped into a nondescript white passenger van and headed out. In 1996, the show "Friends" was one of the most popular on TV and the music and lyrics for the theme song "I'll Be There For You" by The Rembrandts were practically ingrained into everyone's head at the time (and to this day). Meeting the band at the hotel bar area, they invited me to sit down and relax before heading out to the venue. Not knowing what to expect, I quickly realized that they were a really friendly, down-to-earth group of guys. They invited me into their conversation, asked me about West Palm Beach and SunFest, bought me a Coke and offered to sign my SunFest program, which I still have to this day. Forty-five minutes later, we loaded into the van and started our ride to SunFest. I recall a conversation in which they talked about their excitement of sitting next to a local Playboy Playmate on the plane ride into PBI the night before. Shaking hands and wishing them luck as I dropped them off behind the stage, I felt great relief that I was able to transport these performers safely to the show on time. For a regular 29-year-old volunteer, being able to privately hang out and talk with such a well-known band for a few minutes was among my most memorable experiences of SunFest. — John Giaimo, Palm Beach Gardens
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Widespread Panic and Steve Winwood in 2016 stood out to me as the best performers I've seen at SunFest. I've been to SunFest four times and I always ask myself why don't I go every year? My answer is not enough rock and roll, but SunFest has to appeal to all walks of life. One thing that will never change in my mind is there is nothing better than live music, cold drinks, good food and an awesome waterfront atmosphere. SunFest always delivered that without fail. — John Bryan, Port St. Lucie
I went to the early ones out in Royal Palm. Free food drink and entertainment for everyone, and then it moved waterside. It had great entertainment and local arts for free, and then low-cost, and then medium cost, until ultimately high cost and very little local arts and artists. Well, the same it went at the first Moonfest, and all the other events originally started around West Palm through the decades. — Gary Greenwald, West Palm Beach
I have been going to SunFest back when there was jazz music. I got to see several bands over the years with all the positive energy there along with the food and art. My favorite artist was Todd Rundgren. I'm going to miss it all for this 72-year-old man. — Philip Ottato, Sunrise
1992 Ray Charles performed. A night to remember. Crowd was respectful and civilized. But over the years the music became a proponent for unruly, drunk spectators. — Arleen Corvo, West Palm Beach
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Return it to what it was originally!! A JAZZ FESTIVAL!! For a reason! It has to do with the quality of the overall event. Robert Armour and Paula Shore were onto something good. Great performances by great artists. Harry Connick Jr, Diane Shore, Gato Barbieri!! There are still great jazz artists and enthusiasts out there. I lost interest when it changed to rock, etc. A whole new vibe and rougher crowd. The prices escalated. — Melinda Haines, North Palm Beach
My wife and I had our first date in 2005 at Sunfest and have celebrated our "Sunfest Anniversary" ever since. We are sad that SunFest has ended (for now) but will always have fond memories from our years of attending and watching the great act on the waterfront. — Gregory Rogers, West Palm Beach
I don't remember the year. My husband and I were volunteering. The volunteer T-shirts were hot pink. It started to pour and everybody ran off. One guy was pushing a vendor carriage and yelled: SunFest, my ass! When we got home, dye from the (t-shirts) had run all over our underwear. Second memory. Don and I were in a soda truck. It was free. The entire east coast of southern Florida had run out of all soda except Sprite (maybe 7-up). No one could believe there was no cola. But Don told them to drink Sprite, it's the drink of SunFest. Third memory. There was a VIP bar in the old women's club. Everyone had donated booze. Much of it ran out. VIPs came in for a drink and would ask for a specific drink. Don would say: you can have any drink that can be made from the ingredients that are on the table. — Sally Chester, West Palm Beach
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Coming home from Grad night at Disney and Mom saying let's go to SunFest. Saw some friends there too and listened to music, saw pretty art and had good food. — Lorrie Duka, West Palm Beach
The first time I attended SunFest it was like a MONSOON! Even though we were all soaked, everyone was in great spirits and having a blast. From the volunteers to the vendors — smiles were shining through the pouring rain and it's still my favorite SunFest memory. — Kelli Zink Levy, West Palm Beach
My favorite memory of SunFest was the year my ice cream shop, Sprinkles of Palm Beach, was accepted as a vendor (1980-something???). Not only was I super excited, but the entire staff of six "scoopers" were excited as well! Five days of sun, fun and music? Sign me up! And then in came the rain. And LOTS of it. But we didn't let that dampen our spirits (lol, see what I did there??). We barely broke even that year, but the people, the food, the music and just the overall vibe of our (then) small community was fantastic, rain or not! And in the 40 some-odd years since the festival began, even after seeing the likes of Jimmy Buffet, the Beach Boys and Hall & Oates, THIS is still this girl's favorite memory! My (now) 16 year old son's first concert ever was at SunFest - James Taylor in 2009. He was 1. Last year he jammed out to Shaggy and Nelly (without Mom). — Andi Williams, Palm Beach
We were there in the earliest and best years. Arts and crafts, beer barges, boat races, food stations and low costs. Those were the best years. As the music focus increased and the costs escalated. We stopped! Have lived in Lake Clarke Shores since 1976. — Paul, Lake Clarke Shores
As a musician in Palm Beach County for 40 years, I remember the early days of SunFest (also the Heritage Festival). A lot of us local bands played on modular stages set up in various locations around the waterfront. Local vendors and artists were everywhere selling all kinds of unique items. Our band hit the food fest stage in 1986 (Sweet Mercy). It was a high point for us at the time, even earning a small highlight video on the local news. During that time the festival would escort bands in their vehicles right to the performance stage. There would be one main A list act per night, many in a jazz/blues vibe. A very local flavor in the early years of its inception. And of course, lots of fun. — Michael Hundley, West Palm Beach
I began with SunFest working with Beverly Pope and Andrea as a volunteer coordinator. The festival was beginning and we had parties at local bars, the first being Studebakers. Everyone was invited, on radio, for drinks and food and they signed in. Then I sat in my living room calling every one to get them to sign up for one of our positions. I created a schedule and one by one filled in names. Some said 'I only came for the drink and food I don't want to volunteer' while others were happy to help. Ten days of festival was a long haul, but great fun. As the years progressed, I no longer had to beg for volunteers. People came out of the woodwork for a tee shirt, hotdog and coke. The first years had an air show, crazy boat races, windsurfer races, jazz and local entertainment. Everything Florida was was represented. I worked with the volunteers for 20 years. There is so much about the festival I loved. But I loved the people who came to help. SunFest volunteers did it because they loved the festival and people. I loved the festival too, but I kept doing it for the volunteers. — Maryann (Jones) Umstead, Oil City, Pa.
I was born in West Palm as was my mother in 1930. I loved SunFest back during its early years when I would walk along Flagler with my siblings and cousins enjoying the arts, food and low-key music. It was always a way to give back to the locals after the snowbirds left. I brought my future husband who was from the UK and he loved it. We remembered pushing our own kids in strollers too. I really miss that vibe the original SunFest offered. My sister used to fly back for it during the past few years but we both agreed it just wasn't the same. — Mary Ann Copola-Hooper, Jupiter
The festival had some terrific music like Bob Dylan and James Brown. But then, too many people, too much traffic and out of touch acts. — Miles Lidwig, Boca Raton
Seeing my son's band Jumbo Shrimp perform in 2015. — Colleen Cardillo, Royal Palm Beach
Impossible to pinpoint a single fondest memory, I myself have been going for 42 years ... and I brought my 1-year old daughter to her first concert LENNY KRAVITZ IN 1998, then we saw him again there together in 2015 as she graduated high school that year. The absolute most magical part of SunFest was that it brought people together; my family has made SunFest a tradition for at least 40 years. From going to its jazz-based era with my grandmother and us kids in the later 80's, to each of us carrying the tradition through adulthood ... the McDaniel family (and FRamily) made Club SunFest gatherings an epic multi-day family reunion. This event was truly something special and meaningful to us, as most of us who've lived in PBC & West Palm all our lives counted down the days till our relocated loved ones made the journey to celebrate Sunfest together. Most especially to celebrate Tara McDaniel, who all festival goers knew as the disabled young lady riding throughout the festival in her electric wheelchair loaded with balloons as SunFest always landed around her birthday. She did this for almost 40 years, as her disability began when she was just 12 years old. She was up front and center at as many acts as she could squeeze in. I have countless hysterical, wild, and oh-so-memorable stories I could tell from ALL of us from over the years, but the most important is that time we all had together, especially since Tara passed away unexpectedly last year on April 10. In a poetic coincidence, SunFest left with her. — Jennifer McDaniel, West Palm Beach
My favorite memory from SunFest will always be the concert that ruined SunFest. I believe it was 1997 or 98 Crosby Stills and Nash performed on a Thursday night with admission to the festival being $1. And 200,000 of my closest friends packed onto Flagler Drive for an incredible show, but it was too much. The following year fences started going up around each stage viewing area, extra money would be charged to be anywhere near one of the stages, More modern acts were booked leaving the blues and Jazz acts that made SunFest my favorite festival in the country. The year 2017 was the first and last time since 2000 that I bothered with the parking nightmare to go to the festival, just not as interested in the music they have been overpaying to bring to town. — Chuck Cordle, West Palm Beach
James Coleman is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [e-mail] and follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JimColeman11. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: SunFest: Your favorite memories from West Palm Beach music festival