Why Pharrell Williams postponed his Virginia Beach Festival at the last minute

Photo by Lev Radin on Shutterstock

By Good Info News Wire Team

September 16, 2024

Fans were left reeling after Pharrell Williams postponed his Something in the Water festival the same day tickets went on sale.

Pharrell Williams has delayed the Something in the Water music festival to April 2025. The announcement came in a letter addressed to Virginia, posted Friday afternoon on the festival’s social media pages, starting with:

“Dearest Virginia, I love you with all my heart. Nobody loves you more than I do. Virginia doesn’t deserve better, Virginia deserves THE BEST.”

The letter stated that the festival, initially set for Oct. 12 and 13 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, “just isn’t ready yet” and needed more time to “get this right.”

The news was announced hours after tickets went on sale for Virginia residents at 10 a.m., with lines forming early at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater. Williams’ letter assured that credit and debit card purchases would be refunded, while cash purchases would be refunded at the box office.

Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney emailed the City Council around 3:30 p.m. Friday, stating that his staff would discuss the next steps with the council.

Fans, on the other hand, reeled over the last-minute news. “We were just excited, like, it’s coming up, October’s just around the corner, RJ Mendoza told 3WKTR. “I spent $360 for two general admissions.” After heading to the amphitheater early to no avail, he saw Pharrell’s post.

“I just feel completely empty and just like mad,” he told the outlet. “I’m just like, dude, I wasted four hours, all this time, all this energy, waking up early.”

Something in the Water was last held in April 2023 and moved to the fall to align with the release of Williams’ animated Lego-themed movie, “Piece by Piece.”