Washington, D.C
Festivalgoers enjoy D.C.’s first ‘Something in the Water,’ while some raise logistical, crowding concerns
A years-long hiatus, introduced on by the pandemic, got here to an finish with the pageant’s return in Washington D.C.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — For concertgoers of the unique One thing within the Water Pageant in Virginia Seashore in 2019, the revival in 2022 held a a lot completely different expertise.
“You would inform the distinction between the seaside setting and that metropolis setting. Much more of an open circulate with the Oceanfront,” Portsmouth podcaster Reggie Scott mentioned.
This 12 months, Virginia Seashore misplaced out on internet hosting Pharrell Williams’ famed pageant, after internet hosting its kickoff pageant in 2019. Pharrell, a Virginia Seashore native, moved it to the streets of the nation’s capital, beforehand citing claims of a “poisonous vitality” in his hometown.
“The primary one was magical. I knew that it wasn’t going to be the very same, so I set my expectations low. I knew it’d be lots of people. Regardless, it was nice, it was an superior time,” Willie Williams mentioned.
The three-day pageant, held on Independence Avenue close to the Nationwide Mall, was full of A-list acts like Pharrell, Pusha T, Usher and extra this Juneteenth vacation weekend.
All through the weekend, some took to social media to boost considerations of crowd capacities when within the pageant space, a sentiment Scott echoed.
“They initially mentioned individuals might depart, go someplace exterior then come again in. There have been individuals who have been turned away from coming again in in any respect as a result of they have been at capability,” Scott mentioned, who added that he felt the condensed metropolis surroundings made it tougher to maneuver round between the levels.
“It felt every part was too close-knit. I’d really feel dangerous for those who have been claustrophobic,” Scott mentioned.
Williams, a Hampton Roads native who’s referred to by pals because the “Live performance King,” mentioned solely at sure occasions for sure acts did it really feel like there wasn’t sufficient area, however total mentioned it was a optimistic festival-going expertise.
“In comparison with 2019, it was on the Oceanfront so there may be extra space. It was sort of slim, however they made it work,” Williams mentioned.
