Second Funhouse Fest
The second Funhouse Fest builds on the first one, with attendees commenting that it’s more organized, better produced and has more variety this year.
Friday night kicked off the live music festival in Williamsburg, with headliner Sheryl Crow drawing an enormous crowd – with lawn seats becoming standing room only.
Return guests Anne and Randy Hisle sprawled out on the lawn sharing a pizza with Eric Law, who was attending for the first time.
“I think last year had more of a bluegrass feel, while this year is a bit more ‘pop’ and a bit more Lilith Fair,” said Randy Hisle. “It’s great Bruce can get this caliber of bands to come here.”
“Sheryl Crow is a household name – she did an amazing job,” said Anne.
Part of the appeal seems to be supporting live music in Williamsburg, and the novelty of an outdoor summer concert. Some guests noted the location as exceptional and the chance to see a big outdoor concert as their reasons for attending.
Nancy Porter and Brett Cline came up from Virginia Beach and Newport News respectively, for their first time to the event. They heard about it through the Virginia Arts Festival.
Guests at the event wore everything from tie-dyed T-shirts and bare feet to summer dresses and high heels. And some mixing and matching of the two!
A number of people on Saturday night came to see Lake Street Dive. People into music love them, like local musician Scott Varney who brought his son Evan to the event.
Evan Varney, 17, is going to Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall to study jazz. “I’m happy to see an event that brings all age groups together in Williamsburg,” he said.
Ryan Palmer, 35, is a big fan of Lake Street Dive.
“That’s what I listen to when I’m riding my mountain bike,” he said. “Their last album was just fantastic (it’s called Side Pony) and the way the create is refreshing – they are so collaborative. Last year I came for Bruce, this year, I would have come just to see them.”
Adding more food options helped make the event more festive, including five food trucks serving everything from pizza (they bring the oven with them on a trailer) to BBQ and mac ‘n’ cheese. Food trucks, which are growing in popularity, make a variety of meal options easy to offer on the street, and created a kind of food court on the closed-for-the-weekend Francis Street.