Pleasantville Gears Up for Exciting New-Look Music Festival
Anyone planning to attend the 11th annual Pleasantville Music Festival at Parkway Field this Saturday can expect some surprises.
Earlier this year organizers announced several big changes, including the addition of a third stage for the event. One of the new features is appearances by winners of this winter’s Battle of the Bands, spotlighting young musicians, to open the festival.
Pleasantville Music Festival Executive Director Andy Goodman said he knew the contest would be a great way to get young musicians involved, but he never expected to be blown away by the entrants.
Initially, the contest was intended to have two winners: one that would open the Chill Tent Stage and another to open the Beer Garden Stage; however, Goodman explained that festival volunteers ultimately booked three artists who competed.
These winners, Megan Talay, Regret the Hour and Wild Planes, will kick off the festival at noon, and Goodman urges ticketholders to be sure to catch their performances.
“I did not expect the caliber of talent that we had. It’s just incredible,” Goodman said. “All three of these are a great reason to come early.”
Gates open at 11 a.m. for the festival, with headliners the Gin Blossoms, G. Love & Special Sauce and Fastball. But this year people who wish to participate in Tent City won’t need to line up to ensure they have a good spot. Goodman said tickets for Tent City, which are now sold out, were put on sale in advance this year in order to make the process go smoothly. Anyone who brings a tent but does not have a Tent City ticket will not be allowed to bring it in.
Other banned items include selfie sticks and drones. Goodman said volunteers will be checking coolers to prevent festival patrons from bringing in alcohol.
The festival will include a silent auction of four acoustic guitars that were donated by Paul Bessolo of Rock Island Sound in Tarrytown. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the festival’s charitable partners: Love, Hope, Strength, which helped acquire some of the artists for the event; the Justin Veatch Fund; the Prader Willi Foundation; and the Tina Gambino Memorial Fund. In addition, Westchester Medical Center, in partnership with Evan’s Team, will be selling raffle tickets for a Mercedes-Benz convertible, with the proceeds going toward remodeling the hospital’s family area.
For younger festival-goers, there will be a Kids Fun Zone run by Funtime Amusements as well as a photo booth from Double Image Entertainment, theater activities with Arc Stages and face painting by Pleasantville residents Greg and Kat Nemec.
For complete information on the festival, including tickets and the scheduled lineup of performers, visit www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com.
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