VIRGINIA BEACH — Dates have been confirmed for Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water Festival, according to the Virginia Beach Hotel Association.
Concerts will be held on the beach Oct. 12 and 13, the association’s executive director Terri Wiley wrote in an email to members Tuesday afternoon. The Virginian-Pilot obtained the email after WVEC first reported the dates.
“The Something in the Water dates are being released and will be held the weekend of October 11, 2024,” Wiley wrote in the email. “There will be concerts on the beach Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13. There will also be the World Premiere for Pharrell’s new movie that weekend. The movie chronicles Pharrell’s childhood in Virginia and Virginia Beach.”
Wiley went on to write, that “there will be activations along the oceanfront, oceanfront parks, and in other areas of the city. Details will be released soon, but we wanted to give our membership time to plan once we learned the date. VBHA hotel members are looking forward to SITW’s return and welcoming SITW back to the city!”
The popular festival, founded by rapper, mogul and Virginia Beach native Williams, was last held in April 2023.
This year, it was moved to the fall and will coincide with the release date of the new movie about Pharrell’s life, “Piece by Piece,” which will use Lego animation.
Something in the Water promoters are planning a “creative” save the date post on social media today, according to Robby Wells, the Virginia Beach-based festival organizer.
The festival attracts some of music’s biggest names.
Last year’s run included performances by hip hop legends Lil’ Wayne, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul and Williams, along with favorites from the new generation like Lil’ Yachty and Lil’ Durk. The festival spans genres, also including acts The Jonas Brothers, indie rockers Arcade Fire and jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington.
The Pilot reported in December that October 2024 was a likely time for the next festival. After weather disrupted the 2023 festival, Williams wrote in a letter to fans he wanted to shift the festival to a different season due to a higher likelihood of better weather, adding there would be “more acts, more merch, more food … just more!”
Something in the Water originally was planned for the weekend of Oct. 18, said former City Councilmember John Uhrin, who manages the Schooner Inn hotel at the Oceanfront. The organizers canceled the rooms recently, though, Uhrin said.
The Schooner Inn is next to the main concert stage area at 5th Street and has provided rooms for festival workers in the past, said Uhrin.
He’s adjusting now to the last minute change of date.
“I’ve been in touch with the promotor about rooms,” said Uhrin. “But I already had two-thirds of building sold. What I’ve got left I’m holding for the workers. We’re excited to have them back.”
Staff writer Gavin Stone contributed.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
