VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach leaders say they’re frustrated and were “blindsided” with Something in the Water organizers’ abrupt decision to postpone the festival less than a month before it was supposed to take place.
They say they’re going to need more concrete assurances from the SITW team ahead of any future festivals, including when date announcements, a list of performers and more information will be released. They also want to be “at the table” in the internal decision making process, rather than having to wait for festival organizers to announce news and then reacting from there.
Virginia Beach City Council members shared those thoughts in Tuesday’s informal council session , four days after Pharrell Williams and the Something in the Water team made the surprise decision.
That announcement came down at 4:22 p.m. Friday, hours after presale tickets went on sale for Virginia residents. Hundreds waited in line for hours for the tickets, some driving as far away as Virginia Tech, only to find out it was all for nothing.