Pleasantville Parties at Eighth Annual Music Festival
A steady stream of music lovers, sun worshippers and those who simply enjoy a good party made their way to Parkway Field on Saturday afternoon to experience the eighth annual Pleasantville Music Festival.
Under bright skies and warm temperatures, an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 spectators laid out blankets and opened beach chairs on the sun-drenched field to listen to 16 bands on three stages combine to play for more than eight hours. This year’s festival was headlined by the British band The English Beat on the main stage and also featured Davy Knowles, Good Old War, Delta Spirit, Z.Z. Ward and Susan Said along with a lineup of local and regional groups on the Village Stage and in the Beer Garden.
“It’s one big dance party,” said festival co-Executive Director Rich Sarfaty.
Spectators, who filled up the field in front of the main stage by mid afternoon, were made up of local residents and those who traveled for up to a couple of hours in what has become a must-attend event every summer for many in the crowd.
“We come every year and we just come to enjoy the day and the music and to be outside and to see our friends,” said Pleasantville resident Sue McCarthy, who has been to all eight festivals and was looking forward to hearing Knowles.
“The fun, the sun, the music, the whole atmosphere. It’s a great day,” North Salem resident Robert Geckle said of why he and his wife and friends have made it an annual event on their calendar.
With a key assist from the weather, Sarfaty said early on that he expected as big a crowd as they have ever had, perhaps as many as 7,000, to come through the gates. Getting the field ready for the stages as well as the more than 50 vendors and exhibitors, which included a wide assortment of food and drink, went off without a hitch, he said.
Unlike during the first few years, the festival has evolved to the point where not only music fans wait with anticipation but hundreds of bands clamor for an invitation. Sarfaty said one of the goals is to have a varied lineup representing different music styles.
“Instead of trying to reach out and go crazy, they’re coming right to us, which is really nice,” Sarfaty said. “Again, all the (agents) are familiar with the process here so they’re really happy with what we do. I mean, we have a world class event in Pleasantville.”
On the Village Stage, which was in the area surrounded by the vendors and exhibitors, the Yonkers-based group True Apothecary was one of dozens of bands that had sent in tapes to organizers by February to be considered for the event. Bassist Paul Loew said the group loves playing outdoor venues, having performed at a festival recently in Albany and with another coming up in Utica later this summer. After completing about a 25-minute set, the Pleasantville Music Festival ranks high on their list.
“I’ve been here before, not as a performer, but it was a great time so I knew it was going to be fun,” Loew said. “It was a great stage. The sound was amazing.”
Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer saluted the more than 100 local volunteers who along with the DPW pitched in to help the village put on a great show. Now that the festival has been around for eight years, it has become a well-oiled operation, Scherer said.
Aside from the music, of course, the fact that it’s close to home and helps raise Pleasantville’s visibility are added bonuses.
“One of the nice things about it, it’s just a little bit of a nice local vibe,” Scherer said. “Good music and without all the craziness that goes along with going to Jones Beach.”
While many of the fans were locals, there were plenty who embarked on a lengthy trek for the occasion. Two years ago, Justin Satkowski came to his first festival and enjoyed it so much that he planned to return. He and Regina Ammirati both traveled from Walden in northern Orange County to see Knowles, one of their favorites.
“It’s just a good set of bands this year so that’s why we’re back,” Satkowski said.
Festival regular Amanda Caparosa came from Danbury with her three sons, including three-month-old Joey. She enjoys the music–and looked forward to Good Old War–but likes the variety of vendors and the activities to keep the kids occupied.
“The music is phenomenal. Most people come just for the music but year after year they’ve been growing what you can do besides listen to music,” Caparosa said.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
