VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water music festival in Virginia Beach has been postponed to April 2025.
Williams made the shocking announcement on Friday afternoon on social media, the same day that hundreds of Virginia residents waited in line for special presale tickets.
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The crowd for local presale ticket sales for Something in the Water 2024 on September 13, 2024. (WAVY image) -
The crowd for local presale ticket sales for Something in the Water 2024 on September 13, 2024. (WAVY image) -
The crowd for local presale ticket sales for Something in the Water 2024 on September 13, 2024. (WAVY image) -
The crowd for local presale ticket sales for Something in the Water 2024 on September 13, 2024. (WAVY image)
“Dearest Virginia, you deserve THE BEST. I promise it will be worth the wait. See you in April. All my love – P,” Williams wrote.
Williams says any passes purchased on Friday by credit or debit card will be automatically refunded. Those who bought passes with cash can be refunded at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach.
Meanwhile the City of Virginia Beach released this statement in reaction to the news: ““The Something in the Water team has informed the City this afternoon that the festival will not take place in 2024. As far as next steps go, City Council will need to review staff guidance and feedback to determine next steps and consider future plans.”
The news was not received well by ticket purchasers and potential festivalgoers on social media, some of whom had already booked hotel rooms for the weekend.
“To do this the same day you finally sell tickets, you’re tarnishing the brand you built smh,” wrote one user on X.
“I can’t believe y’all let those people wait in that line today” wrote another.
“I feel like bro only remembers this festival like a month before it’s supposed to happen,” said one Instagram user on SITW’s post, which received hundreds of comments in just a few minutes after the announcement.
This all comes after several delays in the rollout of the festival. Organizers waited until Thursday to announce the presale for Virginia residents, less than a month before the festival was expected to happen on October 12-13.
April is the original slot for the festival. In 2019 and 2023, it was held on the last weekend of April on the former “College Beach Weekend.” Williams moved the event to October this year after concerns over inclement weather in previous years.
